The package of carbon tax repeal Bills was defeated in the Senate Thur 10.7.2014. The vote was 37:35 against. The Bills defeated today were:
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No 2].
- True-up Shortfall Levy (General) (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No 2].
- True-up Shortfall Levy (Excise) (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No 2].
- Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No 2].
- Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No 2].
- Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No 2].
- Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No 2].
- Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No 2].
It is understood that the 3 Palmer United Party (PUP) Senators and Senator Muir (Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party) voted with Labor and the Greens to defeat the package of Bills. Environment Minister Greg Hunt said 4 of the crossbench Senators supported the repeal Bills.
The Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Abetz, said the Government “remains committed to removing the impost of the carbon tax”. He said amendments were moved to the repeal Bills in the Senate, which the Government was willing to support, but they were withdrawn by the Palmer United Party (PUP) on the basis of the Clerk’s advice [apparently that they were unconstitutional].
Senator Abetz said this was a technical issue which the Government believes will be overcome by the re-introduction of the legislation next Monday 14 July in the House of Reps. He said the Government “will seek to do everything it can to facilitate the passage of the repeal in a manner that will allow the Palmer United amendments to be moved in the House of Representatives and then come through to the Senate next week”. He said that by the end of next week, the Government expectation was that the carbon tax would be abolished.
The other Bill in the package, the Clean Energy (Income Tax Rates and Other Amendments) Bill 2013 [No 2], had been defeated at Second Reading stage in the Senate Wed 9.7.2014.
[LTN 131, 10/7/14]