Senate debates
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Bills
Clean Energy Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Charges — Customs) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Charges — Excise) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Fuel Tax Legislation Amendment) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Household Assistance Amendments) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Income Tax Rates Amendments) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (International Unit Surrender Charge) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Tax Laws Amendments) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge — Auctions) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge — Fixed Charge) Bill 2011, Clean Energy (Unit Shortfall Charge — General) Bill 2011, Clean Energy Regulator Bill 2011, Climate Change Authority Bill 2011, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2011, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2011; In Committee
4:15 pm
Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source
I will take the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. When I was in opposition he guillotined and gagged I do not know how many bills and, with Work Choices, came in with 336 amendments some 35 minutes before the debate began.
Senator Abetz interjecting—
I am making the point, Senator, that I think the moral authority and the high-handedness of the opposition do not really have any grounds. I would say that the way in which the Leader of the Opposition in this place opened the debate probably indicated the tenor of this debate. They are not interested in the policy, they are not interested in the detail of the bill; they are only interested in making the same political points that they have been making now for a very long time.
We believe this legislation is in the national interest. We have worked very hard with those on the crossbenches and the Greens to deliver this package of legislation to this parliament. I do not think anybody in this place or outside of this place would have not recognised how many times we have tried to get a price on carbon through this place. I know that Senator Abetz wants to relitigate the previous election over and over again. What we are doing is debating this package of legislation. This is the opportunity for senators to move amendments. I see there are some seven amendments, most of which I think are moved by Senator Xenophon, and—
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