Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I thank you for drawing it to my attention. My question is to Senator Evans as Leader of the Government in the Senate. I refer to this week's lame efforts by the government to distance itself from its alliance partner, the Australian Greens. To quote one Labor senator, 'You could say we learnt our lesson. We didn't want to look like we were married to the Greens.' I also refer to statements this week by Senator Milne that the carbon tax vote 'is only the first step', that it puts in place a 'platform to campaign for even more' and that now there is no limit to 'upward ambition'. Given the government's capitulation to the ideological push by its alliance partner, the Greens, in legislating a carbon tax in breach of its promise not to introduce a carbon tax, how can Australians be assured that Labor will not give in yet again to the extreme attacks by their alliance partner, the Greens, on Australian industry, jobs and living standards?