Mr CREAN (2:01 PM) —My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Have you seen reports of a revolt by the Victorian branch of the National Party over petrol tax? Acting Prime Minister, how are you going to explain to them when you meet this weekend your broken promise that the price of petrol would not rise due to the GST? How are you going to explain that, under your new tax system, for the first time petrol tax is now higher in the regions than in the city?

Mr ANDERSON (Acting Prime Minister) —I thank the honourable member for his somewhat predictable question. As usual, you cannot take at face value his interpretation of what others have said. It is true that a member of the Victorian branch of my party has made some comments about the concern in rural areas about high fuel prices, but the first and foremost point that I want to raise is that he has acknowledged, the member opposite might like to know, that to a very great extent the concerns in rural and regional areas about the differential between country and city prices has eased. He said that. And for some unknown reason, the member who asked the question chose not to refer to those comments. I am not quite sure why! Quite simply, the National Party's position on this is on the record; the coalition's position is on the record. Our position is quite firm. You attempt to continue—

Mr Crean —Mr Speaker, the question did raise the differential and—

Mr SPEAKER —Does the Deputy Leader of the Opposition have a point of order?

Mr Crean —the fact that your new tax system widens it. What are you going to tell them about that?

Mr SPEAKER —The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition received the call but did not indicate for what reason he had risen.

Mr ANDERSON —I repeat the point that there is an attempt by the member who asked the question, the shadow Treasurer, to misrepresent the claims made by the president of the Victorian branch of the National Party. He actually said that concern has moved from the fact that there is a discrepancy between country and city fuel prices to an overall concern about high fuel prices. We all share that. But there is one thing we do: we move around, people talk to us and we listen to their concerns about fuel prices. As we talk to those who have an understanding of the issue, there is one thing that we do not do—and that is to accept any authority, moral or otherwise, from the ALP on the question of petrol pricing.