ETS deal goes past deadline

27 Nov 2009, 4:30 pm   -   Source: AAP, SBS Staff
10 Comments
Share This
+ Comment
10

Today's deadline for passing the ETS deal in the senate has passed, with the Liberal Party's turmoil on the issue continuing.

RELATED

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that it is "deeply, deeply disapointing that the liberal party has not honoured this agreement" when speaking about the ETS scheme this afternoon.

The negotiated deal between the federal government and the opposition on the carbon pollution reduction scheme missed its 15.45 senate deadline with many amendments undebated.

The senate sits again on Monday, but there are dozens of amendments still to be discussed before the scheme is voted on at some point next week, and more delay and potential filibustering is a likelihood.

Shortly after the deadline, Gillard said that "endless delay is not going to cut it any more", and would not speculate on whether this leaves the government looking for a double dissolution.

"We are not focused on anything other than delivering the carbon pollution reduction scheme", Gillard answered when asked if the deadlock-resolving procedure was on the cards.

Gillard was heavily critical of the Opposition. She said the government will be turning up to the senate on Monday, but the Opposition must also be there to honour their word.

"I would like to pay a tribute to Mr Turnbull", Gillard said. "He has acted constructively and in the nation's interest."

But she was scornful of those in the Opposition trying to scupper the deal.

"If they fail to honour the agreement...they have been conqured by the sceptics and deniers in their ranks"

Gillard also recalled that the Liberal Party fought the last election, under John Howard, committed to a deal on an emissions trading scheme.

Deal looking unlikely early on in the day

By half past two in the afternoon, the senate had only addressed four amendments, and a vote was looking unlikely.

As the deadline approached, Deputy Leader in the Senate Eric Abetz attacked the government, asking "why is the Labor Party so scared of a few extra days?" to debate the bill.

Earlier, liberal senator Scott Ryan on Friday asked Senator Wong to clarify an answer already given to Greens senator Christine Milne about Kyoto units, which refer to certified levels of carbon emissions expressed in tonnes.

Wong annoyed at Libs 'taking up a lot of time'

 "With respect Senator Ryan, you're doing a far better job than Senator (Julian) McGauran and Senator (Barnaby) Joyce yesterday in taking up a lot of time," Senator Wong said.

"And that's fine. We'll continue to answer questions. You're chasing every rabbit down every path."

But Senator Ryan was not satisfied, seeking a further clarification.

"And quite frankly, I reject the assertion that this is in any way some sort of filibuster," he said.

"I think I've asked most of my questions here in well under five minutes and they have been questions rather than speeches.

"If you want me to start making speeches, I can do that as well."

Earlier, Greg Combet, Junior Minister for Climate Change Greg Combet said

"If that time comes around and the legislation has not been dealt with, it is a clear indication that the extremists and conspiratists in the Liberal party and the National party have got the upper hand," Mr Combet told reporters in Canberra.

"It's clearly been a commitment that we expect to be delivered, that the legislation be voted upon ... this afternoon."

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube

Your Comments

Display: 20 | 40 | All comments per page
Previous 10 | Page 1 | Next 10

MR

Rodney - from Auckland, 2 years ago

ETS is simply a scheme of redistributing wealth from richer nations to poorer ones. There will be NO reduction of CO emissions. All that will happen is that developed nations will pollute on behalf of poorer nations. It's all just a Con

ETS money cycle

RJ - from Sydney, 3 years ago

I listened to Senator Penny Wong tonight say over and over that under the ETS, 90% of families will receive cash assistance to offset the increased costs in electricity, fuel etc. Does she think we're all idiots? Where does the money come from? The government only gets money from taxes, which, one way or the other, come out of our pockets. This is socialism at its most idiotic level. This whole scheme will cost us a fortune in administration, and achieve nothing. Take additional money off us, pay people to administer it, then give the balance back. Why do we have to tolerate this nonsense?

WA

Liv D - from kald@yahoo.com, 3 years ago

Most people do nto realise that this is a catastrophic tax which does not make any difference for the world environment. So wahy pass a totally flawed ETS before Copenhagen. And most supporting this law seem to equal "we have to do something" with "pass ETS" when it is clear that this law is just a tax on everything and we will all pay through the bones.

Bob, your passion for the environment is commendable but

Jenny - from Sydney, 3 years ago

the ETS are not going to improve the environment. Look at the environmental report by "Friends of the Earth". It states that ETS is "irresponsible and dangerous...allows speculators to grow rich from the climate crisis and hands politicians and industry a get-out clause for polluting business as usual.” China & India will be free to create as much polution as they want under ETS & subsequent deal at Copenhagen.

hide the decline

Allan Oliver - from brisbane, 3 years ago

What was the comment in one of those emails again? oh thats right "how do we hide the decline?" what was another one,oh i remember now "the current lack of warming is a travisty" and on on they go,please giveyourself the time to check them out oh and the source code data used to fudge the true figures wake up your good intentions have been hijacked The conspiracy is now fact not theory but the question is why? ask yourself why? What is to gain? its much more than money wake up the rest is

A bit rich

Matt - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

I think it's a bit rich that Penny Wong can claim the Liberals are "taking up a lot of time" when she spend months on this and handed it over only days before the parliament was due to vote. remeber the Alcho Pops tax also......

The Greens are now the only alternative

Nick - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

Greens hold the real solution. The Liberal party and the ALP are doing nothing to save our environment from the effects of climate. The greens hold the real solution Rudd's policies do nothing to help save the environment from the effects of climate change. Having a minimum 5 per cent cut and a maximum of 20 per cent cut on 1990 levels IS NOT ENOUGH.. The Greens have the real solutions based on scientific and factual evidence. We as Australian voters have no option but to now vote Green.

ETS irresponsible

RJ - from Sydney, 3 years ago

There is no excuse for passing the ETS before Copenhagen. This is iven more applicable now that the very basis of the CRU data is in question. To push ahead with this based on nothing more than failed climate models is irresponsible, and the government should be sacked for its incompetence.

We all need to pay

Bob - from Pymble, 3 years ago

Let's be fair. We all need to pay for our extravagant environmentally-damaging lifestyle. Aren't you willing to pay to survive ? Do you have kids Trent ?

The ETS needs to be right before it is passed.

Trent - from Punchbowl, 3 years ago

Yes that’s right lets rush through a scheme offers big concessions to the big polluters while placing the consequences and cost at the taxpayers feet. The voters are still figuring this out but when they do it will cost all those involved when we next go to the polls. The ETS needs to be right before it is passed.

Display: 20 | 40 | All comments per page
Previous 10 | Page 1 | Next 10

Join the Discussion

Name
City / Suburb E.g. Artarmon, Sydney
Title
Comment
You have characters remaining.
Validation
What's this?
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.
All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.