Senator IAN MACDONALD (Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) (2:30 AM) —The government will not be supporting this amendment either, for the same reasons that I mentioned before. The amendment seeks to substantially change the baseline concept for the inclusion of pre-existing generators under the measure. As with the previous proposal by Senator Allison, this is a very complex policy issue that is related to other policy areas which are fundamental to the scope and operation of the measure. Again, we say it should be looked at fully in the review rather than in the bill.

While I am on my feet, I might just mention something in relation to Senator Brown's question regarding the previous amendment. I can give you part of the answer to that, Senator Brown. Hydro Tasmania provided evidence to the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee that in 2001 it generated between 118,000 and 119,000 renewable energy certificates. I think you also asked for the value, but I am told that we cannot actually give you a value because it is a market price that varies.