Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I would be happy to debate the question of a mandate with Senator Abetz at any time. It is one of those theories that people like when it suits them and abandon when it does not. The reality is that this government is going to put a proposition before the parliament that the elected members of parliament, including those opposite, will get to vote on. They will get to vote on legislation to put a price on carbon. Then they can decide whether they are going to support the legislation or not. That will depend on how the numbers in the party are going, whether the loss of a few of the old right-wing warriors means the numbers swing back again. But that is what we will see. Decisions about a price on carbon will be made in the Australian parliament by all of us. All of the elected representatives of the people will get a chance to vote on carbon legislation later this year.