[Greens-Media] Senate maintains carbon price

[Stahel, Peter (Sen C. Milne)]

Senate maintains carbon price

The Senate has voted to maintain the existing emissions trading scheme 29 - 33.

"The Senate has rejected Tony Abbott's do-nothing approach on global warming and voted to maintain the price on pollution," Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

"No one should give up on the current law. It has the support of leading economists like Ken Henry, Ross Garnaut and Bernie Fraser whilst Tony Abbott's phoney alternative is friendless.

"Momentum for emissions trading is building around the world ahead of the 2015 global climate negotiations. If Australia is left behind it will be our jobs, industry and innovation that will suffer.

"The price on pollution is the nation's best defence against the more extreme bushfires, droughts and storms of the next century. 

"Tony Abbott should now abandon the so-called Direct Action plan, which is little more than a slogan. 

"Direct Action will be more expensive than the current market based mechanism and ineffective at reducing carbon pollution."