2010‑2011

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Presented and read a first time

Carbon Tax Plebiscite Bill 2011

No.      , 2011

(Mr Abbott)

A Bill for an Act to require a plebiscite before Australia introduces a carbon tax, and for related purposes

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                             1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1

3............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 1

4............ Object of Act....................................................................................... 2

5............ National plebiscite to be held............................................................... 2

6............ Question to be submitted to electors.................................................... 2

7............ Results of plebiscite............................................................................ 2

8............ Application of Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984............ 2

9............ Regulations......................................................................................... 2

A Bill for an Act to require a plebiscite before Australia introduces a carbon tax, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

Part 1—Preliminary

1  Short title

                   This Act may be cited as the Carbon Tax Plebiscite Act 2011.

2  Commencement

                   This Act commences on the day after it receives the Royal Assent.

3  Definitions

                   In this Act:

                   electors means all persons validly enrolled to vote under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 on the date of the plebiscite provided for by this Act.

                   Minister means the Minister responsible for the administration of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

4  Object of Act

                   The object of this Act is to enable the views of electors on a carbon tax to be determined by national plebiscite.

5  National plebiscite to be held

                   The Minister must cause the question specified in section 6 to be submitted to electors at a national plebiscite but not later than the last Saturday in November 2011.

6  Question to be submitted to electors

                   The question to be submitted to electors in accordance with section 5 is “Do you support the Government’s plan to introduce a price on carbon to deal with climate change?”.

7  Results of plebiscite

             (1)  The Electoral Commissioner must provide the Minister with a statement setting out the results of the plebiscite as soon as practicable after the plebiscite is held.

             (2)  The Minister must cause a copy of the statement to be laid before each House of the Parliament as soon as practicable.

8  Application of Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984

                   The Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 applies to the submission of the question specified in section 6 and the scrutiny of the result of the plebiscite with such modifications as are necessary to allow the submission of the question and scrutiny of the result on the same basis as a referendum under that Act.

9  Regulations

                   The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:

                     (a)  required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

                     (b)  necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.