The government’s plans aim to

The Australian parliament has rejected government plans to introduce ambitious carbon trading scheme to tackle global warming. If the government is defeated again, it could trigger a general election.
    The emissions trading scheme was a centerpiece of the Rudd government environmental strategy. Its aim was to cut greenhouse emissions by 5% over the next ten years. Yet the Rudd government does not control the upper house of the Australian parliament, the Senate. And the measure has been defeated by 42 votes to 30. Outside the ruling Labor Party, this was a friendless measure. Greens senators have called for more stringent reductions. The opposition Liberal Party believed the scheme would hamper the all imported mining sector that was being rushed through parliament without proper consultation.