Australia passes carbon tax, MRRT progresses

摘要

The Australian Senate passed in November the government's legislation to introduce a price on carbon in what was described by Prime Minister Julia Gillard as a "history-making vote" which "turns years of discussion into a reality." The package of 18 clean energy bills, which has been vehemently criticized by the federal opposition Liberal party, was passed by the upper house of parliament, where the Green party holds the balance of power, by a margin of 36 votes to 32. The bills in October won the backing of the lower house, where Gillard's Labor government holds a majority with the support of several independent members, by a margin of 74 to 72.