The Labor government has finally got its carbon price plan through the Senate — on a vote of 36 to 32.

But Labor refrained from the scenes of enthusiastic hugging and kissing on the floor that marked the legislation’s passage through the House of Representatives, with just a handshake between government Senate leader Chris Evans and Greens leader, Bob Brown. In the final stages of a series of votes, people in the public gallery applauded.

The carbon victory comes as Labor was heartened by an improvement in today’s Newspoll, with the ALP primary vote rising from 29 per cent to 32 per cent.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott, who is overseas, said in a statement that Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Labor had confirmed in law their betrayal of the Australian people.