25th Nov 2009, 11:01 AM – Senate Business - Rearrangement - Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme legislation

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Labor Senator Joe Ludwig, which was:

That, on Wednesday, 25 November 2009:

(a) the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 11.40 pm;

(b) the routine of business from 7.30 pm shall be consideration of the government business order of the day relating to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 (No. 2) and 10 related bills; and

(c) the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 11 pm.

This is a procedural motion that Senator Ludwig introduced to ensure that the Senate has sufficient time to finish considering these Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme bills this week.

The Liberal Party was split in this division with twelve voting in favour of the motion and seven voting against it.(Read more about what it means for a senator to cross the floor and rebel against their party in our FAQ section. )

Background to the bills

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 (No. 2) was introduced as part of a package of six bills along with five other related bills to introduce the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. They reflect the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 and its related acts, as amended in the House of Representatives before it was negated in the Senate.(See that division here. )

The scheme is an emission trading scheme designed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in an effort to address climate change. It gives effect to Australia's obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

The design of the scheme has been criticised by the business community for threatening jobs and by environmentalists for not going far enough with its emission reduction targets.(Read more about these criticisms here.)

The six bills that were introduced as a package are called:

• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges-Customs) Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges-Excise) Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges-General) Bill 2009 (No. 2)

The five other related bills are called:

• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2009 (No. 2)
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2009 (No. 2)