Greens Senator for WA Scott Ludlam, former Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and NZ Greens spokesperson for Energy Gareth Hughes MP united with key members of the WA renewable energy industry today to warn against an attack on renewable energy policy following Saturday's Federal election.

"Every time Tony Abbott opens his mouth he is costing WA jobs and investment," Scott Ludlam, Greens Senator for Western Australia said at a joint press conference.

Australia is closer than ever to a clean energy future, with the bills to put a price on carbon and invest in clean, renewable energy being debated in the Senate. These bills, which wouldn't have happened without the Greens, are a vital first step to tackle the climate crisis and transform our economy.

These are the speeches made by the Australian Greens' MPs during the debate of this historic legislation.

The House of Representatives vote to support the Clean Energy Future bills negotiated by the Greens, the government and independent MPs is a vital step towards tackling the climate crisis and building a cleaner, healthier Australia.

The bills, negotiated through the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee as a result of the Greens' agreement to support the Gillard Government, will now move to the Senate where they will be debated and voted on in November before coming into effect on July 1 next year.

Audio of the press conference at Parliament House today by Senators Bob Brown and Christine Milne and Member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, after the House of Representatives passed the Clean Energy Future legislation to put a price on pollution and invest in clean, renewable energy.

The Australian Greens, the Labor government and the Independent MPs today announced an historic agreement on a climate action package that will put a $23 per tonne price on carbon pollution, as was first proposed by the Greens, support householders and invest billions of dollars in clean, renewable energy.

This package, which the Greens have helped shape, is the first vital step towards tackling the climate crisis and building a cleaner, healthier, more secure Australia for all of us.

UPDATE: Read the details of the carbon price and clean energy package here.

Pollution from burning coal, oil and gas is driving a climate crisis, making our world more dangerous, increasing prices of food and water and jeopardising our way of life.

But if we cut pollution and invest properly in the clean alternatives, we can build a healthier, cleaner, more secure economy and community for all of us.

Why do we need a carbon tax?

The Australian Greens today joined the Gillard government in announcing an agreed pathway towards a carbon price that should commence on July 1, 2012, beginning the transformation of our economy from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy.

The agreement is a major step towards implementation of the Greens' proposal for a fixed carbon price starting as soon as possible, rising each year, with no international offsets allowed. The fixed price could be replaced in time with a well-designed emissions trading scheme.

The Australian Greens today joined the Gillard government in announcing an agreed pathway towards a carbon price that should commence on July 1, 2012, beginning the transformation of our economy from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy.

The agreement is a major step towards implementation of the Greens' proposal for a fixed carbon price starting as soon as possible, rising each year, with no international offsets allowed. The fixed price could be replaced in time with a well-designed emissions trading scheme.

The Australian Greens propose an extended electricity grid across Australia to bring renewable energy on line.

"This can convert South Australia, an importer in the age of fossil fuels, to a renewable energy exporter," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

Speaking in Adelaide today, Senator Brown said South Australia had huge potential for geothermal, solar and wind power.

"However, there should be a full inventory of this potential to ensure investment in the grid is configured to meet future renewable energy production.