by Booney » Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:18 pm
Clive Palmer has thrown a last-minute curveball at the Abbott government by announcing his senators will delay a Senate vote on the carbon tax.
The Palmer United Party had an agreement with the government to support amendments that guarantee savings from the abolished tax are passed on to consumers and business.
But on Thursday, after supporting a government move to bring on a vote at 11.50am, Mr Palmer announced changes to his own amendments.
The amendments provoked a "violent reaction" from the government, he told reporters in Canberra.
"There are no circumstances that we'd be voting today for the carbon tax repeal."
One of the key changes is a penalty imposed on entities that do not pass on savings to gas and electricity customers.
The penalty would be 250 per cent of the saving that has not been passed on.
It also removes reference to "domestic" electricity and gas customers, potentially leaving it open for companies to be penalised if they don't pass on savings to overseas customers.
The definition of "entity", which replaces "corporation", is expanded to include individuals and "any party or entity which can or does buy or sell electricity or gas".
The time in which entities have to give the consumer watchdog a notice they are complying with price cuts has been set at 30 days after the bill gains royal assent.
Entities face a $34,000 fine if they don't comply - double the original fine.
The time in which customers must get notice of electricity and gas price savings has been reduced from 90 days to 30 days.
PAFC. Forever.
LOOK OUT, WE'RE COMING!