Independant Senator Ricky Muir prevents steamrolling of the carbon tax
Despite being swept into power last year, the Coalition government is not enjoying an easy time of things. Their “honeymoon” period has passed, they are down in the polls and now independent senators are blocking their bills smooth passage through the Senate.
Although aligned with the Palmer United Party, Ricky Muir of the Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party has sided with cross-benchers Nick Xenophon and John Madigan to delay a carbon tax repeal vote until further debate is heard. This left a 36-36 vote tie, and will delay the carbon tax repeal vote by a number of days.
The Coalition had hoped to rush through a vote on Thursday to ensure the Prime Minister a useful press cycle before the weekend allowing him to take a victory lap and hopefully earn a bump in the polls.
It was a move that attracted the ire of Labor party senator Penny Wong who launched into a vitriolic tirade that enjoyed widespread circulation on social media. In the clip she explains that Labor was willing to allow a good-faith repeal vote on the carbon tax, however the government’s timing and lack of courtesy for senate protocol prompted her spiteful rejoinder, “You have spat in the face of that offer”.
Green’s leader Christine Milne was similarly angry at the move, damning the government’s attempt to “ram through” the repeal of “probably the most important package of bills for Australia’s future.” Her position is understandable considering it was the Greens that forced former Prime Minister Gillard’s hand away from her preferred emissions trading scheme in favor of the carbon tax.
Senator Muir has also throw his support behind funding for ARENA, while Clive Palmer and the PUP have reiterated their support for the renewable energy target, remaining adamant that no changes should be made to the scheme until after the next election.
Lane Crockett, head of renewable energy provider Pacific Hydro, supported Palmer’s stance highlighting its importance for the future of the industry. “Mr Palmer’s support for the renewable energy target highlights the critical importance of this policy for Australia and provides a measure of certainty for the renewable energy industry,” he said.
Pacific Hydro were one of many power companies invited to make a submission to the government’s RET review board, you can see the details of their submission on the company’s website.
