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FIELDING MOVES TO DELAY VOTE ON CARBON TAX

Press Releases November 23 2009

Family First Leader Senator Steve Fielding will move to defer a final vote on the Rudd Government’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) until February next year.

Senator Fielding believes there are enough numbers in the senate to support this motion.

He’s hopeful the Nationals, Greens, Nick Xenophon and enough Liberal senators will want there to be no vote on the ETS until after the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

“Given there are significant amendments being announced tomorrow it’s dangerous to spend just a few hours debating and agreeing to an emissions trading scheme,” Senator Fielding said.

“The Australian public should also get a say in this so it makes sense to delay a final vote so they can make up their mind as well.

“The Rudd Government is reckless and irresponsible trying to ram through this multi-billion dollar tax in only a few hours right at the end of the year.

“No one knows what the ETS is going to look like because of the deals being done behind closed doors, so how on earth can we have a proper debate if we don’t even know what we’re really talking about.

“Its common sense to wait until next year, not only because we don’t know what the ETS looks like, but also so we can see what the rest of the world plans to do with climate change.

“I cannot believe the Prime Minister wants to put at risk thousands of jobs and our economy just so he can stand on his soap box at Copenhagen and say ‘look at me, look what I’ve done’.

“Kevin Rudd really needs to come back down to earth and do what’s right for Australia and not just operate in his own interests.

“Its important to remember that every four months, from now until 2020, China will build a new coal fired power station possessing the same capacity as Australia’s entire coal fired power sector.

“There is no doubt in my mind it’s economic suicide to act before Copenhagen. No wonder we haven’t heard from the treasurer on the merits of an ETS because he knows full well it’s a foolish move.”