Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has succeeded in his third attempt to kill off the country's carbon tax. The government legislation, first introduced last November, has been approved by the Senate by 39 votes to 32. Abbott campaigned for years against the carbon tax, introduced by the previous Labour Party government, saying it is “toxic” and hurts ordinary Australians without any appreciable benefits. Abbott said the repeal of the tax will benefit average Australian households by $550 a year, with gas prices falling about 7% and electricity prices dropping by 9%. It will also, he said, restore faith in the economy.
