The Australian carbon tax scrapped: the carbon tax was repealed in Canberra this morning after Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the Coalition government managed to procure enough votes to push the repeal through the Senate.

The carbon tax repeal was won by seven votes, with the final tally reading 39 to 32, and was made possible with the help of the support of the Palmer United Party as well as other marginal seats in the senate.

It was the Coalitions third attempt to have the carbon tax scrapped, with both the Labour party and the Greens voting against the repeal each time.

Mr Abbott held a press conference following the vote in order to express his relief that the tax was repealed.

“With the carbon tax gone, goes also a 9% impost on the price of power, a 9 billion a year hand break on our economy and a $550 a year hit on our household budgets”.

Clive Palmer of the Palmer United Party however said that he would be “surprised” if the savings were that substantial with the carbon tax scrapped, instead estimating $270 in annual savings.

Carbon Tax Scrapped: Abbott Claims Swift Power Bill Reduction

Mr Abbott ensured that the repealing of the tax would translate to real savings for the Australian people, and that power companies must legally pass savings onto customers with the carbon tax scrapped.

“The ACCC will be on hand, will be vigilant to ensure that the reductions in the price of power are passed on through our economy to our community, to families.”

Energy Australia has said that portions of power bills charged to customers as a result of the carbon tax would be removed in September and that financial credits would be applied to accounts based on backdated charges.

Opposition Backlash to Carbon Tax Repeal

Mr Abbott also criticised the Labour party leader Bill Shorten for stating that if Labour is re-elected, the carbon tax would be re-legislated.

Mr Shorten said that it is the position of the Labour party that with the carbon tax scrapped, an emissions trading scheme needs to be implemented. Mr Shorten also claimed that the Prime Minister’s view on climate change has not changed since he famously made the remark accusing climate change science of being “absolute crap”.

The Greens, (who have recently been frustrated with the Coalitions opposition to renewable and solar energy development), have also stated that with the carbon tax scrapped, they will work to ensure strong legislation is enacted to address climate change.