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Tony Abbott's threat to delay holiday for senators appears unlikely Tony Abbott's threat to delay holiday for senators appears hollow
(about 5 hours later)
Tony Abbott’s threat to keep parliament sitting until it passes the carbon tax repeal appears likely to be hollow, with the Greens refusing to back a government motion implementing the tactic.Tony Abbott’s threat to keep parliament sitting until it passes the carbon tax repeal appears likely to be hollow, with the Greens refusing to back a government motion implementing the tactic.
Guardian Australia understands the government motion – likely to be put on Wednesday – will propose that the Senate not adjourn until it has voted on the bills implementing the carbon tax repeal.Guardian Australia understands the government motion – likely to be put on Wednesday – will propose that the Senate not adjourn until it has voted on the bills implementing the carbon tax repeal.
The Greens will not back this motion, meaning the Senate is likely to rise after debating the carbon tax repeal bills, but without voting on them.The Greens will not back this motion, meaning the Senate is likely to rise after debating the carbon tax repeal bills, but without voting on them.
It may vote on the bills, now being considered separately, to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Climate Change Authority, both of which are set to be rejected by the combined votes of Labor and the Greens in the Senate.It may vote on the bills, now being considered separately, to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Climate Change Authority, both of which are set to be rejected by the combined votes of Labor and the Greens in the Senate.
The prime minister appeared to have accepted that he was not going to keep parliament sitting past its scheduled last day this Thursday when he said in a pre-recorded message before leaving for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Africa: “It’s the last sitting week of the year. It’s the week when the Senate will consider the legislation to repeal the carbon tax and the mining tax”, before urging Labor to support the repeal. Last Tuesday he told his party room that if it was necessary to keep parliament sitting to get a vote on key policies he would “just have to do it”.The prime minister appeared to have accepted that he was not going to keep parliament sitting past its scheduled last day this Thursday when he said in a pre-recorded message before leaving for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Africa: “It’s the last sitting week of the year. It’s the week when the Senate will consider the legislation to repeal the carbon tax and the mining tax”, before urging Labor to support the repeal. Last Tuesday he told his party room that if it was necessary to keep parliament sitting to get a vote on key policies he would “just have to do it”.
The leader of the government in the Senate, Senator Eric Abetz, said Monday that keeping the Senate sitting was “a matter that still needs to be determined”.The leader of the government in the Senate, Senator Eric Abetz, said Monday that keeping the Senate sitting was “a matter that still needs to be determined”.
But the environment minister, Greg Hunt, was still making the threat and claiming that if Labor and the Greens prevented a vote before the scheduled last day of sittings it would amount to Labor leader Bill Shorten calling the Senate “out on strike” and sending them home to “put their feet up and watch the cricket”.But the environment minister, Greg Hunt, was still making the threat and claiming that if Labor and the Greens prevented a vote before the scheduled last day of sittings it would amount to Labor leader Bill Shorten calling the Senate “out on strike” and sending them home to “put their feet up and watch the cricket”.
The Greens have said they want to bills voted on before the end of the year, but are unwilling to support a motion to guillotine debate.The Greens have said they want to bills voted on before the end of the year, but are unwilling to support a motion to guillotine debate.
If, as appears likely, the parliamentary skirmishing results in no vote being taken it will mean the government has not achieved the first stage of a double dissolution trigger and will not until parliament sits again in February.If, as appears likely, the parliamentary skirmishing results in no vote being taken it will mean the government has not achieved the first stage of a double dissolution trigger and will not until parliament sits again in February.
The fate of the repeal bills is now likely to rest with the new Senate which begins sitting next July. Crucial balance of power votes in that Senate are held by the Palmer United Party, which has not said how it will vote on the repeal. Businessman Clive Palmer has said he wants any repeal to be retrospective, absolving existing carbon tax liabilities, including $6.2m owed by his Queensland Nickel refinery.The fate of the repeal bills is now likely to rest with the new Senate which begins sitting next July. Crucial balance of power votes in that Senate are held by the Palmer United Party, which has not said how it will vote on the repeal. Businessman Clive Palmer has said he wants any repeal to be retrospective, absolving existing carbon tax liabilities, including $6.2m owed by his Queensland Nickel refinery.
Hunt also sought to put pressure on Labor and the Greens over the repeal by confirming leaks of the headline figure of the government’s own national greenhouse gas inventory, before the release of the details of the report.Hunt also sought to put pressure on Labor and the Greens over the repeal by confirming leaks of the headline figure of the government’s own national greenhouse gas inventory, before the release of the details of the report.
According to leaks in News Corp papers, emissions fell during the first year of the carbon tax by 300,000 tonnes.According to leaks in News Corp papers, emissions fell during the first year of the carbon tax by 300,000 tonnes.
Hunt said this proved that “the tax is a rolled gold failure. It was meant to achieve extraordinary things. Instead, an $8bn-a-year tax for virtually no impact. There couldn’t be a clearer demonstration of an utter carbon con.”Hunt said this proved that “the tax is a rolled gold failure. It was meant to achieve extraordinary things. Instead, an $8bn-a-year tax for virtually no impact. There couldn’t be a clearer demonstration of an utter carbon con.”
Labor’s environment spokesman, Mark Butler, said the figures showed the carbon tax was working.Labor’s environment spokesman, Mark Butler, said the figures showed the carbon tax was working.
“The first year of the Clean Energy Package saw a 6% decrease in carbon pollution from electricity generation, due primarily to a 25% increase in electricity generation through renewable energy. At the same time, the Australian economy continued to grow strongly with 150 000 new jobs created during the 12 months. This information flies in the face of Tony Abbott’s last ditch attempt to bully the Senate into agreeing to scrap an effective climate change policy without having a credible alternative,” he said.“The first year of the Clean Energy Package saw a 6% decrease in carbon pollution from electricity generation, due primarily to a 25% increase in electricity generation through renewable energy. At the same time, the Australian economy continued to grow strongly with 150 000 new jobs created during the 12 months. This information flies in the face of Tony Abbott’s last ditch attempt to bully the Senate into agreeing to scrap an effective climate change policy without having a credible alternative,” he said.
Earlier inventory figures – released in the normal way with the detail – showed that in the year to March soaring emissions (so-called fugitive emissions) from coalmining and gas production offset declining emissions from electricity production.Earlier inventory figures – released in the normal way with the detail – showed that in the year to March soaring emissions (so-called fugitive emissions) from coalmining and gas production offset declining emissions from electricity production.
The carbon tax was levied on fugitive emissions, but the coal industry also received a compensation package. Under the Coalition’s Direct Action package, coalmining companies could compete for government grants to reduce their emissions, but without any carbon liability it is unclear what financial incentive they would have to do so.The carbon tax was levied on fugitive emissions, but the coal industry also received a compensation package. Under the Coalition’s Direct Action package, coalmining companies could compete for government grants to reduce their emissions, but without any carbon liability it is unclear what financial incentive they would have to do so.
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