Senate delays vote on emissions
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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."
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