Senator Eric Abetz

Labor's unbridled hubris at the passing of Labor's now flawed modern award system legislation at taxpayer's expense gives the Australian people an insight into Rudd Labor, according to Senator Eric Abetz.

It's been revealed that at the height of the global financial crisis, as businesses were being sent to the wall and workers all over the country were being sacked because of Labor's mismanagement, Julia Gillard was whooping it up late into the night behind closed doors in her Ministerial suite hosting an indulgent party for 75 invited guests at taxpayers expense to celebrate Labor's new workplace relations system.

ABETZ, Senator Eric, Tasmania29.55 amAbetz, Sen EricN26TasmaniaLP00Senator ABETZ (Tasmania) (9.55 am)If ever the Australian people needed a reason why the Greens should not be given the balance of power in this Senate or indeed in the Tasmanian parliament, we have a clear example of that here today. Sure, there is no doubt that the issues raised in the EPBC Amendment (Prohibition of Support for Whaling) Bill 2010 are important, but the issue is of balance and common sense. With the Greens everything they do is vitalit is the most important thing for the day, it is absolutely important. I still remember the passion with which Senator Brown spoke in this place about whether senators had to wear jackets or not. It is the same sort of passion that he uses to speak about whales. There is no sense of balance. There is no sense of priority. I remind the Australian people and the Australian Greens

ABETZ, Senator Eric, Tasmania25.32 pmAbetz, Sen EricN26TasmaniaLP00Senator ABETZ (Tasmania) (5.32 pm)On behalf of the coalition, I move:

That

        (1)  The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010 and 10 related bills be referred to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 11 May 2010.

        (2)  In undertaking the inquiry, the committee should consider.

             (a)  the package of amendments announced by the Government on 24 November 2009 and incorporated in current proposed legislation, including the impact of the bills on the Australian resources sector, Australian exports, the competitiveness of Australian industry, employment levels and electricity prices;

             (b)  the modelling underpinning the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) including the lower projected carbon price and the cost of the CPRS package over the current budget period to 2014-15;

             (c)  the outcome of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Copenhagen in December 2009;

             (d)  the current state of progress of other countries in implementing emissions and abatement measures to meet nonbinding emissions reduction targets; and

             (e)  the status of, and likely prospects for, the United States of Americas emissions trading legislation.

        (3)  The committee should seek evidence from, but not limited to, the Productivity Commission, Frontier Economics, the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Coal Association and the Energy Supply Association of Australia.

Once again the Greens have shown their true colours in attempting to hijack the business of the Senate by trying to force through debate on the amendment to the Prohibition for support for Whaling Bill 2010. 

Whilst I support the amendments in general terms there is a time and a place for debate on this issue and the Greens should not be allowed to dictate the business of the Senate just because it fits their so called Green agenda.