Bill Shorten says Labor wants carbon tax replaced by ETS

Updated

The major parties are headed for a Senate stalemate on the future of the carbon tax, provoking the likelihood the Government will need to call a double dissolution election to scrap the tax by the July deadline.

After a meeting today, Labor leader Bill Shorten said his frontbench had unanimously voted to oppose the Federal Government's existing plans to repeal the carbon price, unless it included a move to an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

This is at odds with the Federal Government's long-held plans to replace the carbon price with its Direct Action policy that does not link to overseas emissions reduction schemes.

Mr Shorten says he is confident the Labor Caucus will endorse his position.

"We believe the best, most cost-effective way to deal with carbon pollution is through an Emissions Trading Scheme," he said.

"If our amendments are not successful, we will oppose the Government's repeal legislation in line with our long-held principle position to act on climate change."

Mr Shorten says Labor does not have any faith that there is credible science behind the Coalition's Direct Action policy.

"No credible expert argues that the Coalition's Direct Action policies will work; instead they are Tony Abbott's policies to pay taxpayer money to big polluters," he said.

The Government has repeatedly used Labor's opposition to the repeal legislation as a political tool and it wants to push the bills through parliament this year.

Labor won't be rubber stamp for Abbott: Shorten

Prime Minister Tony Abbott believes ditching the tax will save households $550 per year and he has accused Labor of choosing to withhold that money.

Mr Abbott also says the outcome of this year's federal election has given the Coalition a strong mandate to implement its election promises and he has taunted Mr Shorten directly, labelling him 'Bill-shock Shorten' and 'Electricity Bill'.

But Mr Shorten says Labor will not be swayed.

"Labor will never be a rubber stamp for Tony Abbott," he said.

"What we won't do is mortgage our children's future, what we won't do is ignore the best science available just to keep Tony Abbott happy."

Environment Minister Greg Hunt accused Mr Shorten of "not caring about the result of the election".

"We will not stop until the carbon tax is repealed," he said.

"Bill Shorten is voting to keep the carbon tax but he doesn't have the courage to say so."

Greens Leader Christine Milne has also criticised the move.

"I think Labor voters are going to be really disappointed that they're playing games with carbon pricing."

The detail of Labor's amendments will be made public before Parliament sits in less than two weeks.

Topics: government-and-politics, climate-change, environment, emissions-trading, australia

First posted