Slipper votes with Labor to ditch carbon floor price
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Peter Slipper has sided with Labor to pass legislation removing the floor price from the carbon tax and linking Australia's emissions trading scheme to that operating in the European Union.
Mr Slipper's decision to vote with the Government on the legislation is his first major indication since stepping down from the Speaker's role on Tuesday that he will not be tied to the policies of his former party - even on issues of carbon pricing.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott yesterday said he expected the crossbench MP to vote with the Coalition given he was elected as a Liberal National Party member at the 2010 election, although he quit the party late last year when he became Speaker.
The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives, will allow Australian businesses to buy carbon pollution permits from the European market once the fixed price period ends in 2015.
It will also remove the floor price for carbon emissions once the Australian system transitions to a market-based scheme.
The Coalition tried to block the legislation, arguing it would result in billions of dollars being sent overseas to international carbon traders.
It also moved a motion calling on the Government to scrap the carbon tax, a move voted down by Labor with the help of several independent MPs, including Mr Slipper.
The Greens were unsuccessful in their bid to amend the legislation to require the Productivity Commission to review the level of assistance provided to coal-fired power stations.
Labor described the amendment as a "breach" of the agreement reached by the multi-party climate change committee.
As part of the Government's plan to link the Australian system to the European Union emissions trading scheme, the original floor price had to be removed.
The legislation will also allow the Australian scheme to be linked to other international carbon markets as they develop around the world, including in Asia and the United States.
The bills will now be considered by the Senate.
The carbon price took effect on July 1 this year, although the Coalition is promising to repeal the tax if it wins the next election.
Topics: federal-parliament, federal-government, government-and-politics, emissions-trading, australia, qld