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Senate delays vote on emissions

Posted June 23, 2009 14:32:00
Updated June 23, 2009 16:15:00

Smoke drifts across the skyline of the north-west Queensland town of Mt Isa

The Opposition wants to delay an emissions trading vote until international talks in Copenhagen in December. (User submitted via ABC Contribute: JodieV, file photo)

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has conceded it is unlikely there will be time for the Senate to vote on the Government's emissions trading scheme this week.

The Government wanted the legislation to be first on the agenda in the Senate this week, so it could be voted on by Thursday.

But the Coalition has succeeded in overturning the Government's order of business so that other matters will be discussed first.

The Opposition is trying to delay a vote on the emissions trading scheme until after international talks in Copenhagen in December.

Senator Wong says today's motion means it is now unlikely there will be time for the scheme to be voted on before Parliament breaks on Friday.

"The Liberal Party has just combined with the crossbenches to ensure that this bill is delayed," she said.

"A range of other legislation will be discussed. If there is time, clearly the Government wants to debate this bill, but it is clear from the motion that has been passed today it will be very difficult to find the time to do that."

Senator Wong says if the Senate runs out of time to vote on the bill, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull must take the blame.

"We wanted this legislation in this session. We made clear it would be debated by the Senate in this session. We made clear we wanted this debate brought to a conclusion in this session," she said.

"If we are unable to do that as a result of what has occurred today and yesterday, that is something for which Mr Turnbull bears responsibility."

Tags: government-and-politics, federal-government, emissions-trading, australia

Australia Votes 2010

76 needed to form government

The Negotiations

State of the Parties

76 seats required for victory

90.3% counted.
Updated Fri Sep 3 09:21AM
Party % Vote Swing Won Predict
Labor 38.1 -5.3 72
Coalition 43.7 +1.6 73
Greens 11.6 +3.8 1
Others 6.6 -0.1 4

Changing Seats

90.3% counted.
Last updated Fri Sep 3 09:21AM
Time Count % Electorate Held By Margin 2PP % Swing Predict
14:37 93.5 La Trobe L/NP 0.5 50.9 1.4% to ALP ALP GAIN
10:06 86.5 McEwen L/NP 0.0 55.4 5.4% to ALP ALP GAIN
16:37 88.5 Solomon ALP 0.2 51.9 2.0% to CLP CLP GAIN
14:37 81.2 Melbourne ALP 4.7 55.6 10.3% to GRN GRN GAIN
16:38 93.8 Denison ALP 15.3 51.2 16.5% from ALP IND GAIN
17:07 90.3 Bennelong ALP 1.4 53.6 5.0% to LIB LIB GAIN
19:08 91.5 Gilmore * ALP 0.4 55.2 5.6% to LIB LIB WIN
11:23 92.7 Hasluck ALP 0.8 50.6 1.4% to LIB LIB GAIN
16:37 92.0 Macarthur * ALP 0.5 53.0 3.5% to LIB LIB WIN
11:23 92.5 Macquarie ALP 0.3 51.2 1.5% to LIB LIB GAIN
18:54 90.3 Swan * ALP 0.3 52.6 2.8% to LIB LIB WIN
16:53 91.5 Bonner ALP 4.5 52.6 7.1% to LNP LNP GAIN
19:24 88.4 Brisbane ALP 4.6 51.1 5.7% to LNP LNP GAIN
16:52 92.1 Dawson ALP 2.6 52.4 5.0% to LNP LNP GAIN
12:51 93.7 Dickson * ALP 0.8 55.2 5.9% to LNP LNP WIN
15:37 89.6 Flynn ALP 2.2 53.2 5.4% to LNP LNP GAIN
11:21 90.6 Forde ALP 3.4 51.6 4.9% to LNP LNP GAIN
15:22 92.2 Herbert * ALP 0.0 52.1 2.1% to LNP LNP WIN
17:23 90.2 Leichhardt ALP 4.1 54.5 8.6% to LNP LNP GAIN
16:37 92.0 Longman ALP 1.9 51.9 3.8% to LNP LNP GAIN

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Election Live

76 needed to form government

90.3% counted.
Updated Fri Sep 3 09:21AM
Party % Vote Swing Won Predict
Labor 38.1 -5.3 72
Coalition 43.7 +1.6 73
Greens 11.6 +3.8 1
Others 6.6 -0.1 4

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