Tony Abbott admits he won't accept a yes vote on carbon tax
UPDATE 1.45pm: KEY independent MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott today rejected Tony Abbott's push to hold a plebiscite on the carbon tax, as the Opposition Leader revealed he would not accept a "yes" vote.
Fellow independent Andrew Wilkie said he wanted more detail before he decided on his position.
Mr Abbott is banking on the plan to intensify pressure on the PM's climate change plans by today introducing a Bill to force a plebiscite on the carbon tax.
The tactic will make both houses of Parliament vote for or against the public getting a say before the tax begins on July 1 next year.
If Mr Abbott's Carbon Tax Plebiscite Act is passed, it could force the Prime Minister to hold a $69 million "referendum" on her controversial policy within 90 days.
The yes or no question to be put to the people would be: "Are you in favour of a law to impose a carbon tax?"
"This is a way of having a vote without having an election," Mr Abbott told the Herald Sun.
"The people should have a say before the Parliament votes and not afterwards."
But Mr Abbott also told 3AW today that if he was successful in forcing a plebiscite and the result found the people wanted a carbon tax, he would not accept it.
He said he would remain opposed to it and would “rescind it” if he became Prime Minister.
Greens leader Bob Brown blasted Mr Abbott, saying he was showing contempt for voters by calling for a plebiscite but then saying if the result was not what he wanted he would ignore it.
“It’s expensive, tricky and farcical from Tony Abbott," Senator Brown said.
Senator Brown challenged Mr Abbott to have a plebiscite to put a cap on executive salaries.
Cabinet Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Abbott's comment on radio proved the plebiscite was a stunt.
Mr Windsor also said it was a stunt that would waste money as he called on Mr Abbott to instead give his own MPs a conscience vote on the issue.
“The question is a nonsense in itself without any substantive detail, and there isn’t any substantive detail yet,” he said.
Mr Oakeshott described Mr Abbott’s idea as a “Monday surprise” and a “trick”.
Both Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor last week attacked the Government for planning a $12 million advertising campaign to promote the carbon tax and today said the plebiscite was also a waste of money when the detail of the carbon tax had not been settled.
The Opposition Leader earlier said the independents liked to think of themselves as "ultra-democratic", so they should support the plebiscite.
"I think it's going to be very difficult for them to maintain their independent credentials and not support this Bill," he said.
The Senate could vote on the plebiscite as early as tomorrow.
The "old Senate" has its last sitting on Thursday, and until then Mr Abbott only needs the support of independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Victoria's Steve Fielding.
After July 1, when the Senate numbers change, he will need the Greens to back his Bill. A vote is not likely in the House of Representatives before July 4 and Mr Abbott needs four of the six cross-bench votes.
Liberals hope if the Senate agrees it will convince the Lower House independents.
"This is a vastly significant change. This is a bigger change than the GST because the GST did not purport to save the world," Mr Abbott said.
"This is a tax that purports to save the world but it will go up and up and up once it's introduced."
A plebiscite would cost taxpayers at least $69 million and potentially would be held on a Saturday in October.
Mr Abbott says that is far smaller than the $11 billion-a-year cost of the tax. The Government already plans to spend $12 million on an advertising campaign to explain the carbon tax package.
UPDATE 1.45pm: KEY independent MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott today rejected Tony Abbott's push to hold a plebiscite on the carbon tax, as the Opposition Leader revealed he would not accept a "yes" vote.
Fellow independent Andrew Wilkie said he wanted more detail before he decided on his position.
Mr Abbott is banking on the plan to intensify pressure on the PM's climate change plans by today introducing a Bill to force a plebiscite on the carbon tax.
The tactic will make both houses of Parliament vote for or against the public getting a say before the tax begins on July 1 next year.
If Mr Abbott's Carbon Tax Plebiscite Act is passed, it could force the Prime Minister to hold a $69 million "referendum" on her controversial policy within 90 days.
The yes or no question to be put to the people would be: "Are you in favour of a law to impose a carbon tax?"
"This is a way of having a vote without having an election," Mr Abbott told the Herald Sun.
"The people should have a say before the Parliament votes and not afterwards."
But Mr Abbott also told 3AW today that if he was successful in forcing a plebiscite and the result found the people wanted a carbon tax, he would not accept it.
He said he would remain opposed to it and would “rescind it” if he became Prime Minister.
Greens leader Bob Brown blasted Mr Abbott, saying he was showing contempt for voters by calling for a plebiscite but then saying if the result was not what he wanted he would ignore it.
“It’s expensive, tricky and farcical from Tony Abbott," Senator Brown said.
Senator Brown challenged Mr Abbott to have a plebiscite to put a cap on executive salaries.
Cabinet Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Abbott's comment on radio proved the plebiscite was a stunt.
Mr Windsor also said it was a stunt that would waste money as he called on Mr Abbott to instead give his own MPs a conscience vote on the issue.
“The question is a nonsense in itself without any substantive detail, and there isn’t any substantive detail yet,” he said.
Mr Oakeshott described Mr Abbott’s idea as a “Monday surprise” and a “trick”.
Both Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor last week attacked the Government for planning a $12 million advertising campaign to promote the carbon tax and today said the plebiscite was also a waste of money when the detail of the carbon tax had not been settled.
The Opposition Leader earlier said the independents liked to think of themselves as "ultra-democratic", so they should support the plebiscite.
"I think it's going to be very difficult for them to maintain their independent credentials and not support this Bill," he said.
The Senate could vote on the plebiscite as early as tomorrow.
The "old Senate" has its last sitting on Thursday, and until then Mr Abbott only needs the support of independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Victoria's Steve Fielding.
After July 1, when the Senate numbers change, he will need the Greens to back his Bill. A vote is not likely in the House of Representatives before July 4 and Mr Abbott needs four of the six cross-bench votes.
Liberals hope if the Senate agrees it will convince the Lower House independents.
"This is a vastly significant change. This is a bigger change than the GST because the GST did not purport to save the world," Mr Abbott said.
"This is a tax that purports to save the world but it will go up and up and up once it's introduced."
A plebiscite would cost taxpayers at least $69 million and potentially would be held on a Saturday in October.
Mr Abbott says that is far smaller than the $11 billion-a-year cost of the tax. The Government already plans to spend $12 million on an advertising campaign to explain the carbon tax package.
