Abetz blunders on plebiscite bill

The Coalition's Senate Leader Eric Abetz today blundered into gagging Greens Leader Bob Brown when Abetz introduced Tony Abbott's bill for a plebiscite on a carbon tax.

Senator Abetz blocked Senator Brown's request for a two minute statement to inform the Senate that he would move to amend the bill to require the Opposition to accept a people's verdict in favour of climate action.

"It appears the bill will not have the numbers in the Senate," Senator Brown said.

"Yesterday, Mr Abbott said he would not accept a ‘yes' vote for a carbon tax. Now the Coalition has doubly botched its plan, blocking parliamentary debate it doesn't like."