The Labor government has finally got its carbon price plan through the Senate — on a vote of 36 to 32.
But Labor refrained from the scenes of enthusiastic hugging and kissing on the floor that marked the legislation’s passage through the House of Representatives, with just a handshake between government Senate leader Chris Evans and Greens leader, Bob Brown. In the final stages of a series of votes, people in the public gallery applauded.
The carbon victory comes as Labor was heartened by an improvement in yesterday’s Newspoll, with the ALP primary vote rising from 29 per cent to 32 per cent.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott, who is overseas, said in a statement that Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Labor had confirmed in law their betrayal of the Australian people.
Treasurer Wayne Swan attacked Mr Abbott for being away.
‘‘He’s scurrying off with his tail between his legs, isn’t he?’’ Mr Swan said before the vote. ‘‘We had all this tough talk from him over the past few weeks. And the vote’s coming up and he’s scurrying off with his tail’’.
The National Party lashed out at independent Tony Windsor for supporting the legislation in the lower house, with Nationals senator Rob Boswell saying it had been ‘‘the greatest sell out since Judas Iscariot took 30 pieces of silver’’.
The carbon price begins with a tax, starting next July and will move later to a trading scheme. The issue has dogged Labor, contributing to Kevin Rudd’s fall from the leadership, after he backed off on his emission trading scheme, delaying it when he could not get it through the Senate.
‘‘The Gillard government has today secured a clean energy future for all Australians,’’ Ms Gillard said.
Senator Brown said it was ‘‘a green-letter day that will echo down the ages’’. He said the debate on the legislation was over. ‘‘There will be no rescission of this legislation,’’ he said. Mr Abbott has promised he will scrap the legislation.
Finance Minister Penny Wong told Parliament: ‘‘Today we deliver. This is a reform for our children. Today marks the beginning of Australia’s clean future’’. Later she said the issue had been ‘‘a reminder of how hard reform can be’’ and thanked those who had campaigned through difficult times.
The Communications Minister Stephen Conroy was not in the chamber for the vote. He had a pair. Sports Minister Mark Arbib is in New York.
Supporters of the carbon scheme celebrated out of the Parliament, undeterred by torrential rain.
