Despite winning the federal election on Saturday, the new government may not be able to begin the process of removing the carbon tax in its first 100 days of office.
A pre-election promise to make the removal of the tax a priority may not be possible in the immediate term with both the Labor Party and the Greens yesterday promising to defend the carbon tax.
Moreover, without a majority in the Senate Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott will be forced to negotiate with the minor parties to secure legislative passage in the upper house.
Today's Australian Financial Review newspaper said the new government may be forced to wait almost a year to negotiate a deal with the new Senate to avoid a double dissolution election.
Labor and the Greens will control the senate until June 30, 2014.
The new senate looks like it will be made up of a mix of smaller parties including the Palmer United Party and Australian Motoring Enthusiasts.
Returning to Canberra yesterday, Abbott instructed his department to begin drawing up the legislation to dump the carbon pricing scheme although parliament will not resume until late October at the earliest.
However, the Labor Party said it will not change its position on the carbon tax.
Greens leader Christine Milne said yesterday her mandate to protect the carbon tax was clear.
