History to judge carbon vote: Julia Gillard

JULIA Gillard challenged Coalition MPs to ask themselves if they were on the right side of history as she introduced the government's carbon tax legislation, declaring this parliament would pass the measure after decades of debate on climate change.

The Prime Minister said MPs would be judged on their vote by every Australian, "because the final test is not are you on the right side of the politics of the week, or the polls of the year".

"The final test is this: are you on the right side of history?"

Ms Gillard entered parliament at noon and received a round of applause from the public gallery as she introduced the Clean Energy Bill, the main piece of legislation in the 18-bill climate change package.

The raft of bills will impose a $23-a-tonne carbon tax from July 1 next year, moving to an emissions trading scheme in 2015; increase the tax-free threshold to $20,542; and provide compensation to low- and middle-income earners to offset any resulting price increases. The legislation includes an assistance package to support trade-exposed industries.
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