Libs ‘throw in towel’ on carbon debate

In the Senate, the Coalition has thrown in the towel on the carbon debate, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"A line-up of Coalition Senators took all morning to debate the proposal that Greens Senator Penny Wright replace Liberal Senator Gary Humphries as chair of the Legal and Constitutional References Committee," Senator Brown said.

"In a tactical blunder, Opposition Senate Leader Eric Abetz attempted to amend the motion to have a Green replace his own fellow Senator Mary-Jo Fisher as chair of the Environment and Communications Committee.

"This long debate on a committee appointment, with Senator Abetz absent for most of the time, ate into the time available to debate the carbon package which Senator Abetz has given up on.

"The Senate agreed by a clear majority that the Australian Greens, as with the Democrats when they had nine Senators, will have two committee chairs, in proportion to their numbers in the chamber."