Fed: Senate rejects ETS legislation a second time

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2009
Fed: Senate rejects ETS legislation a second time

Reissuing, fixing take key, adding Abbott quote



CANBERRA, Dec 2 AAP - The Senate has rejected the government's emissions trading scheme
a second time, giving Labor a trigger for a double dissolution election.

The Senate voted 41 to 33 to reject legislation setting up the carbon pollution reduction scheme.

The vote, taken at 11.47am (AEDT) on Wednesday, followed more than 40 hours of debate
in the upper house.

Liberal senators Sue Boyce and Judith Troeth voted with the government, but their support
was not enough to give Labor a majority.

The crossbench, including the five Australian Greens, voted with other coalition senators.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had wanted the deal - negotiated with ousted Liberal leader
Malcolm Turnbull - passed before the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen, starting
on December 7.

New leader Tony Abbott, who was elected on Tuesday, immediately withdrew Opposition
support for the bills.

"The Senate has delivered a big win to the people of Australia who have been saved
from a massive new tax that would have been foisted on tehm without proper scrutiny,"

Mr Abbott told reporters after the vote.

Mr Abbott has said it would be "folly" for Australia to establish an emissions trading
scheme before the United States had settled on its model and before Copenhagen.

Family First senator Steve Fielding, who voted against the government, said the vote
was a win for commonsense.

"Australian families and business will breathe a sigh of relief today knowing that
they won't be slugged with a massive tax," he said in a statement.

AAP rl/jlw

KEYWORD: CLIMATE SENATE VOTE UPDATE

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