This is bad news for the cynics who keep insisting that once in office Abbot would just put repealing the Carbon dioxide tax would be too hard and that the tax would remain.
Cheers Comrades
I’ve been heartened by Tony Abbott’s steadfast commitment to repeal the carbon tax. After his “pledge in blood“, it became apparent that the Coalition would stand up resolutely for the majority of Australians who don’t want the carbon dioxide tax. Now, we have another assurance.
TONY Abbott has pledged to get rid of carbon pricing within just six months of the Coalition winning government.
The Opposition Leader said that if blocked in the Senate he would immediately call another election, a double dissolution, and invite the ALP to commit “suicide twice”.
“I won’t reduce the tax, change the tax, or redesign the tax. I will repeal the tax,” Mr Abbott said in Brisbane today.
[…]“If they do, there is a constitutional procedure designed for just this eventuality. It’s called a double dissolution. I would not hesitate to seek a second mandate to repeal this toxic tax. Indeed, it…
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Iain Hall's SANDPIT 
You’re a politics expert, Iain. How long do you think it would take to “repeal” the carbon pricing mechanism and associated legislation?
After Labor gets clobbered at the next election, I suspect they won’t dare oppose the repeal of the carbon tax because it will show that they have learned nothing and will provide Abbott with a double dissolution trigger.
The situation can be compared with how the Coalition backed down on industrial relations after the 2007 election.
So in response to your question, it should be do-able in the first sitting of the new Parliament.
They’ll keep it, Iain. A modified version maybe but they’ll keep a price on carbon. Another bet?
Ray
they have been so vociferous about how bad this tax is that they will leave only the (bad) memory of Labor’s Carbon tax folly.
Damian
It will be gone much quicker than you think and as Leon says Labor are going to be so chastened by the size of their defeat that they will pass the repeal legislation if Abbott does not hold the senate outright.
Sorry to remind you, Iain, but the Greens will still hold the balance of power in the Senate after 2013 because most of them don’t have to stand for re-election. Senate terms are for 6 years.
I am very well aware of that Ray but the point that both Leon and I have been making is that the ALP could be inclined to not oppose the repeal of the Carbon Tax in the senate in recognition of the Queensland style thrashing that they would have just endured.
I think Ray’s right that the Coalition will modify the tax, maybe, but they won’t repeal it. Remember that it’s highly likely that if the Coalition does win the next election it will be Turnbull who will be Prime Minister, not Abbott (who, in my opinion, is nothing but a dangerous fool). Turnbull might even make the bold decision to do even more for climate change.
Turnbull will never be leader of the coalition again Nigel mainly because of the Utegate thing (which demonstrated his poor judgement) Abbott would have to be the most secure leader in politics today and he will be the next Prime minister. Its only lefties who are disgusted with the governemnt but can’t bring themselves to vote for an Abbott led opposition that dream of a Turnbull leadership those who matter in the party don’t think that way at all they see just how well Abbott is travelling and they won’t change horses now and as you bring up the climate change issue his position on that is now well and truly dated as the world is (finally)waking up to the millenarian madness that has been wrought by the AGW theory.
If Abbott becomes PM he’ll keep a price on carbon. He won’t hand back the revenue, Iain, he’ll just find some excuse to keep it.
Ray how on earth could he do it and not wear the same coat of shame for making a massive back-flip that has destroyed Gillard’s credibility? He just won’t do it because it would be political suicide and as a good catholic he knows that suicide is a mortal sin and he won’t risk is his soul for thirty pieces of silver…
Interesting discussion, lads. Still wonder what you think of the six month window. It’s totally unrealistic, surely. Six months to get a “repeal” through the senate? Tone’s over-promising. Or else he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
He’ll probably blame the Greens, Iain. He might put it through the lower house (the repeal) but then accept changes when it hits the Senate.
“Remember that it’s highly likely that if the Coalition does win the next election it will be Turnbull who will be Prime Minister, not Abbott”
What a silly comment. Why would the Libs switch to Turnbull? Under Abbott they are assured victory as long as Labor keeps Gillard and the CO2 tax. Talk about wishful lefty thinking.
The idea that Abbott won’t repeal the CO2 tax is equally silly. He has to because that’s the main reason he will be elected next year. Furthermore, business is depending on it, and most of his caucus colleagues will insist on it.
Abbott is smart enough to know that this is the one thing he has to deliver in office above all others. He will because he must.
Ray and Damian
Besides the fact that half the senate will go with the house which means the coalition stands a good chance of improving their position in the senate there is still the fact that that you are both ignoring just how badly the ALP are likely to be thrashed at the next election, If we think in Queensland or NSW terms the ALP will be a very pale shaddow of its current dodgy self The independants will be gone (maybe not Katter or Xenephon) so do you really think that the dregs of the Labor party are really going to stand in the way of repealling this Carbon Tax? Be real they will want to consign it to the dustbin of history as much as the victorious Libs will.
Damian I agree that six months may be a tall order but if Abbott has managed to get the bills through the house in that time (quite possible given very little debate need be allowed) then he will win the propaganda point and a big tick for effort from the public and If the ALP and teh greens block it in the senate then it will be returned quickly and we will have a DD the difference being that Rudd lacked the balls to do that when his climate bill was blocked but Abbott won’t hesitate. The ALP will still be in massive debt from fighting the 2013 poll so they will not be at all keen to go so soon back to the people. They will concede because they will want to begin rebuilding for teh future rather than trying to keep fighting a hopless battle from the recent past.
That’s crystal-balling, Iain, so allow me to do the same: Reality suggests the Greens will control the Senate and that the ALP will not be wiped out a-la QLD. Don’t forget they will stand firm in Victoria, Sth Australia & Tasmania. And possibly even in NSW. QLD only has, what, about 6 ALP Federal MPs so don’t expect it to be such a wipeout in actual seats lost. And in the Senate, it is numerically almost impossible for the coalition to gain control of the full Senate from a half-Senate election. And Abbott won’t go DD either because people will be sick of elections and will not vote themselves out of tax cuts.
I think that may do less badly in Victoria Ray but not by much, they will do badly in WA and NSW but at a DD the people will vote against the Carbon tax because its hated that much that even the loss of Gillard’s compensation won’t make them vote for the ALP so soon after chucking them out in 2013.
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