The only election promise Tony Abbott intends to keep the repeal of the carbon tax was passed today by the Senate.

It came after an ordeal of frustration and embarrassment for the Government but will ultimately be an even bigger embarrassment for Australia, which is now the only country in the world to reverse action on climate change.

History will judge this Government harshly for its refusal to believe that action is needed on climate change, said Stephen Jones.

Tony Abbott will do anything to ignore the science of climate change and send Australia backwards. Its clear that he still thinks it is in his own words a so-called science and absolute crap.

He has said world leaders shouldnt bother themselves with tackling climate change. Perhaps the PM should listen to the advice of US President Barack Obama, who said last month:

We have to all shoulder the responsibility for keeping the planet habitable, or we're going to suffer the consequences together.

- Barack Obama, June 25, 2014.

There is no doubt our earth is warming and our seas rising or that humankind is the cause.

Each of the last three decades has been warmer on average than any other in modern times, and 13 of the 20 hottest years on record have occurred since 1990.

All of Australias major trading partners are taking serious action on climate change, including China, South Korea and the US. We should not be standing alone against this critical global issue, said Sharon Bird.

Labor will continue to fight for an Emissions Trading Scheme to set a legal cap on carbon pollution and lets business work out the most efficient way to operate, and we will continue to fight against the Tony Abbotts plan to abolish the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Clean Energy Finance Corporation and to undermine investment in renewable energy by spreading myths about the impact of renewable energy on the cost of electricity.

Unlike the Abbott Government, Labor believes climate change is real and we must take action.