Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010

The majority voted in favour of reading the bill for a second time.(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through here. )

This means that the majority agreed with the main idea of the bill, which was to introduce a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

There was one rebel voter in this division.(Read more about rebel voters and crossing the floor in our FAQ section. ) Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull crossed the floor to vote with the government.

Background to the bill

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010 was introduced with ten related bills to create the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. This is the third attempt to introduce this scheme.(Read about the previous attempts 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 ten other bills are called:

• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010
• Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2010
• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Customs) Bill 2010
• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Excise) Bill 2010
• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — General) Bill 2010
• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2010
• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010
• Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2010
• Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2010
• Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2010

References