Labor to bring back ETS in February

Gillard: fish wife

The ETS is like Monty Python’s parrot: “It’s not dead, it’s just pinin’ for the fjords!”

In an astonishing display of arrogance, Julia Gillard has announced at a press conference that the ETS will be reintroduced into parliament on the first sitting day next year, and she is encouraging Coalition members to vote against their own party to get it through!

Is she hoping to get a different result next time? Sorry, Julia. I can tell you now, it will be voted down again… and again, and again, and again, and again.

The ETS is dead. Get used to it.

However, it is very interesting that they chose not to call a DD straight away, and give the Opposition “one last chance” to pass the ETS. Are they running scared, as Andrew Bolt suggests?

UPDATE: Here’s an excerpt from Julia Gillard’s patronising speech:

We are doing this to give the Liberal Party one chance to work through and deal with this legislation in the national interest. We all know the Liberal Party is deeply divided on this question and there have been many Liberal voices prepared to speak up for the national interest [remind me, how is a massive tax with no effect on the climate “in the national interest” again? – Ed] and to speak in favour of our plan to tackle climate change.

We believe that over the Christmas period there is time for the calmer heads in the Liberal Party to consider this question: to consider acting in the national interest and to join with the Government on the first sitting day when Parliament resumes to take decisive steps to deal with climate change. [maybe you’re hoping that an excess of turkey and mince pies will some how affect Coalition brains? Duh – Ed]

We will bring this Bill back into the Parliament because it’s the right thing to do in the national interest. We are determined to see this legislation pass the Parliament. We know that there are Liberals who are prepared to support this legislation. We know supporting this legislation was the position of the Liberal Party only a few short days ago.

We call on those in the Liberal Party over the summer period who believe in taking responsible action on climate change to consider their position, to consider the position of their Party and to come back to the Parliament next year ready to take action on climate change. (source)

In your dreams, Julia.

Just for the record, Gillard used the phrase “national interest” sixteen times in the press conference, and Penny Wong used it twice. There has seldom been a piece of legislation before the Australian parliament that is less in the national interest.