Lexi, your statement 'Economic experts have stated that there should be a penalty on carbon emissions' is one of the reasons that we should reject it. You can't call objections 'silly political debates' when economists are dabbling in science.
You really need to be more objective instead of always seeing only the Labour parties version of reality.
You were guilty of that when you were Foxy.

Juliar offered the same independent half that amount of money and a law that would cost Australia billions. She offered the greens what she had promised the voters what she wouldn't do etc. She offered more because she was prepared to sacrifice the voters.

I found this while looking for some thing else
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/carbon-tax-clawback-in-sight/story-fn59niix-1226326196527
I was looking to see what senators would face election next year.
Mirrors the thoughts I have been putting here.
What a waste!
A pointless one at that, so very much the greens have stopped or held up.
Soon almost for sure, Liberals get the rails run, the easy path, sponsored by the greens.

It seems it doesn’t take much to fool some, practically all of the time, all one needs do is issue a few motherhood statements—like this:

<<The Greens "recognise that protecting the environment
is essential to feeding, clothing, and providing a
good quality of life for people everywhere."
Who rationally can argue with that?

And a few crack-pot statements –like this:

<<For comprehensive Earth action, an all-of-the-Earth representative democracy is required. That is, a global parliament. Let us resolve that through global democracy we shall save the Earth from perishing.”>>

Then bingo, one can be said to have “integrity” and is declared a “great Australian” --- move over Saint Mary MacKillop!

I’m with Belly. I can’t wait to see both Labor and Liberals direct their preference away from the Greens.And watch as the Greens delusions of popularity disappear down the plug-hole.

If the debate re-focuses on the Opposition's
costings and plans - including its 'direct
action carbon plan' and its internally divisive
new tax to pay for some strange and expensive
parental leave scheme - the certainty on an
Abbott victory is lessened. The $70 billion
black hole argument will keep getting
regurgitated - because there's no answer. It
won't stop - and will intensify after the May
budget.

Economic credibility counts in voter-land.
And as stated previously - all the petty political
and hyped grandstanding will eventually stop
working. When it comes to winning in politics
it's real policy debate over economic issues
that matter.

Belly, Why should you be concerned with an Abbott led conservative government their policies suits your conservative political philosophy. With every post you make you move closer to the reactionary right, now calling for a Labor/Liberal deal to 'get the Greens'. Your party has little option other than to direct Senate preferences to the Greens otherwise you would loose Green preferences in the lower house. If that was to happen Federally Labor would be another 'Queensland', you can not have it both ways. Give the Liberal/National coalition control of the senate with the Mad Katters support and they will give you what you want.