Greens Leader Bob Brown and Greens Deputy Leader Christine Milne yesterday explicitly, and accurately, claimed total credit for the Prime Minister’s huge backflip on a carbon tax.

Senator Brown said: “This is a hybrid process for a fixed price to move to a cap and trade system which we actually developed from Professor Garnaut’s ideas some 12 months ago.”

Senator Milne said: “It is because the Greens are in the balance of power working with the other parties (sic) to deliver not only the aspiration but the process to achieve it.”

The Greens claim is proved by the announcement.

It is precisely what the Greens developed 12 months ago based on Professor Garnaut’s work: an interim carbon tax moving to the cap and trade system - duly announced by the Prime Minister – and Senators Brown, and Milne.

The Prime Minister effectively conceded she was doing the Greens bidding.

At the press conference yesterday this exchange occurred:

Reporter: “Is this announcement today a breach of faith with the electorate given that immediately prior to the election you ruled out a carbon price?”

Prime Minister: “This is the parliament the Australian people voted for. You are seeing it on display in front of you. This is the parliament Australians voted for and we have to get on with the job of pricing carbon.”

It only remains to be seen how much more the Prime Minister is prepared to concede to the Greens in fleshing out the commitment to a carbon tax from the middle of next year.

The Greens want a “minimum” 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 although Senator Brown yesterday conceded he would tolerate a 25% cut.

Professor Garnaut, whose advice forms the basis of much of the Greens climate change approach, has recently speculated that both the starting price for carbon, and the emissions reduction target, may have to be higher than proposed in Labor’s dumped Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

Precedent suggests the Greens will press for the application of Professor Garnaut’s views – and will be successful.

ENDS