Carbon tax bill hits Parliament

The Federal government declared that it could not ignore global warming, as it launched debate on its proposed carbon tax legislation in parliament today.

The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, said “after decades of debate, the time for talking is over.

“The science is in.

“It’s now time to get this critical reform in place.

“Other nations are already acting.

“They know that in a competitive, globalised 21st century world, successful economies will be those that adapt early to a carbon constrained future.

“Labor is not prepared to ignore the threat, ignore the science and ignore the economists,” Mr Albanese said.

The government has the numbers to get this measure through the House of Representatives, with the support of the Greens and Independent MPs.

The lower house vote, on this bill, is expected tomorrow.

It will then go to the Senate where it is also expected to pass, without trouble.

However the fate of a second bill, designed to put the Federal government’s refugee deal with Malaysia beyond legal doubt, is still far from certain.

Julia Gillard’s minority government will need the support of a West Australian National party MP, Tony Crook, to win a vote in the House of Representatives, for its so-called Malaysia solution.

Mr Crook has still to declare his position.

If the government was to lose this vote, it would be the first government in 80 years, to lose a lower house vote.

This critical vote is expected on Thursday

The Opposition says the government should resign if that happens – a call the government rejects.

Meanwhile, Mr Albanese declared that the government could not ignore global warming.

“ We cannot say it is someone else’s problem.

“We all share the one planet.

“We are all citizens of the world.

“It would simply not be fair to leave it to our children and grandchildren to deal with the consequences of our inaction,” Mr Albanese said.