Greens set up double dissolution trigger over clean energy corporation

THE Greens will move to force a vote over the repeal of the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation in the Senate.

Christine Milne says the Greens are ready for an election over the Prime Minister’s global warming denial and his brutal budget. Picture: Hollie Adams

THE Greens will move to force a vote over the repeal of the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation in the Senate this week, effectively setting up a double dissolution trigger.

Greens leader Christine Milne today declared Tony Abbott was “last century’s man” and said she would reject the Prime Minister’s “effort to destroy renewable energy investment” by forcing a vote on the repeal of the CEFC.

“(Tony Abbott) is a climate denying last century man,” Senator Milne said on ABC’s Insiders program. “That’s why I’ll be moving in the Senate this week to bring on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill and have it absolutely put to the vote so we reject Tony Abbott’s effort to destroy renewable energy investment in Australia.

“That will set up a double dissolution trigger and make it clear to Australia the Greens will stand firm for a clean energy future as opposed to the Prime Minister’s last century coal, global-warming, destroying future he wants.”

The Greens will hold the balance of power in the upper house for just two more weeks until the new Senate is introduced on July 1.

The CEFC bill was last put before the parliament and rejected in December. If it is rejected a second time this week, a double dissolution can be triggered.

“The Greens are ready for an election over the Prime Minister’s global warming denial and his brutal budget,” Senator Milne said.

“If the Prime Minister refuses to follow through on his threats for a new election the unpopularity of his brutal budget and global warming policy sham will be fully exposed once and for all.

“We expect either a new election if the PM has the ticker for it, or, a completely lame government, shackled by a Prime Minister incapable of dealing with the hand he has been dealt with in the Senate.”

The CEFC was set up by the Gillard government to help finance clean energy projects. Its abolition legislation is the first of 11 bills which abolish the carbon tax, as promised by the Coalition at the federal election.

Labor has previously criticised the abolition of the CEFC, claiming it returned about $200 million a year to the budget.

In December, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said abolition of the corporation was a priority for the government.

Additional reporting: AAP