The ETS (Extra Tax Scheme) has been DEFEATED

[RG]

Yep, not enough Liberals crossed the floor. Good on them!

The other thread was getting quite full so I thought I'd start a newy to clean things up a little.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/emi...-1225806060856

Originally Posted by Herald Sun

THE emissions trading scheme has been defeated in the Senate, as the government failed to get enough Liberals to cross the floor. Climate Change Minister Penny Wong sat through much of the 40-plus hour debate on the government's emissions trading scheme but her efforts have been in vain, as the package of 11 bills setting up the carbon pollution reduction scheme was defeated.

The bills were defeated by 41 votes to 33.

Labor won the support of two Liberal senators, Sue Boyce and Judith Troeth, five votes short of the seven needed to push the scheme through parliament.

"You do not tackle climate change unless you change your economy,'' Senator Wong told the upper house before the defeat. "You have to make polluters pay.''

Senator Wong delivered an impassioned final address, declaring climate change sceptics to really be deniers.

"This government is ensuring through this plan ... that the majority of assistance goes to Australian households.''

The South Australian senator said many of the arguments against the trading plan were a sham.

"These are people sprinting back to the past."

Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce has started rejoicing even before the defeat was made official.

"It's absolutely humbling,'' he said of the involvement of many voters in the climate change debate.

"The Australian people are going to be the greatest winners.''