If the Coalition is elected, the carbon tax repeal bill will be the first legislation to go before a new Parliament.
The upcoming federal election will be a referendum on the carbon tax, according to federal opposition leader Tony Abbott.
The September 14 poll, he said, is the referendum “the Australian voters missed out on in 2010”.
Abbott warned that if the ALP continued to support the carbon tax after the election, then they would do so at their peril.
“The Coalition will abolish the carbon tax, lock stock and barrel, and there is no mystery as to how this will happen,” Abbott said.
“What one Parliament legislates, another Parliament can repeal and, should we be elected, the carbon tax repeal bill will be the first legislation that a new parliament considers.”
Abbott has threatened to hold a double dissolution election if the Coalition is elected and the Senate votes against abolishing the carbon tax.
Abbott said he is determined to remove the tax, repeatedly promising that it will be a priority if the Coalition is elected.
CCN understands a whitepaper process will be initiated 30 days after an election with plans for a new policy to be operational by July 1, 2014. Despite this commitment, there will be some hurdles to overcome, including fierce opposition from the Greens Party.
Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt said his party would fight plans to scrap the tax and called on Labor to commit to the retention of the tax under a Liberal-National government.
Bandt came out fighting after reports the Coalition would move for a double dissolution election if Labor and the Greens blocked legislation.
“Opposition leader Tony Abbott will stop at nothing to implement his disastrous plan for the environment,” Bandt said.
“The only way to protect the environment is to get more Greens into Parliament.”