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Senate rejects Rudd climate plan | Senate rejects Rudd climate plan |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Australia's Senate has rejected a bill on the government's flagship climate change policy for a second time. | Australia's Senate has rejected a bill on the government's flagship climate change policy for a second time. |
Two opposition senators crossed the floor but it was not enough to secure passage of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to reduce greenhouse gases. | Two opposition senators crossed the floor but it was not enough to secure passage of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to reduce greenhouse gases. |
The vote came a day after the opposition Liberal Party ousted leader Malcolm Turnbull, who had promised to back the bill. | The vote came a day after the opposition Liberal Party ousted leader Malcolm Turnbull, who had promised to back the bill. |
Deputy PM Julia Gillard said the bill would be resubmitted next year. | Deputy PM Julia Gillard said the bill would be resubmitted next year. |
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had hoped to have the legislation passed by next week's Copenhagen summit on climate change. | Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had hoped to have the legislation passed by next week's Copenhagen summit on climate change. |
He had secured opposition backing from Mr Turnbull, but his party revolted and replaced him with Tony Abbott on Tuesday. | |
The Liberals went on to oppose the bill and it was voted down by 41 votes to 33 in the Senate. | The Liberals went on to oppose the bill and it was voted down by 41 votes to 33 in the Senate. |
Mr Abbot said on Wednesday that it would be premature for Australia to adopt a carbon trading scheme before the rest of the world. | |
'Calmer heads' | 'Calmer heads' |
Analysts had suggested Mr Rudd could use the rejection of the bill as a legal trigger for a snap election - after which the bill could be passed at a special joint session of parliament. | Analysts had suggested Mr Rudd could use the rejection of the bill as a legal trigger for a snap election - after which the bill could be passed at a special joint session of parliament. |
But Ms Gillard - who is standing in for Mr Rudd while he is overseas - said that the government would resubmit the legislation to parliament early next year. | But Ms Gillard - who is standing in for Mr Rudd while he is overseas - said that the government would resubmit the legislation to parliament early next year. |
"We will come to parliament again, we will seek passage of the bill," she told journalists. "All options are on the table as to what happens next." | "We will come to parliament again, we will seek passage of the bill," she told journalists. "All options are on the table as to what happens next." |
She said that she hoped the break would give "calmer heads" within the Liberal Party time to reconsider. | She said that she hoped the break would give "calmer heads" within the Liberal Party time to reconsider. |
The ETS is part of a package aimed at reducing Australia's carbon emissions by up to 25% below 2000 levels by 2020. | The ETS is part of a package aimed at reducing Australia's carbon emissions by up to 25% below 2000 levels by 2020. |
Australia has the highest per-capita carbon emissions among developed nations and coal is its biggest export. | Australia has the highest per-capita carbon emissions among developed nations and coal is its biggest export. |
But some lawmakers question the scientific case for global warming and say that the ETS will damage Australia's economy. | But some lawmakers question the scientific case for global warming and say that the ETS will damage Australia's economy. |