Efforts by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to fulfil his election pledge to scrap the country's carbon tax have been stalled by an unlikely crew in the Senate. Three senators from the Palmer United Party (PUP) joined with one from the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (AMEP) to vote with opposition Labour and Green Party members to block government efforts to speed up debate on the issue. PUP was formed last year as the carriage for the political ambitions of mining magnate Clive Palmer. AMEP was created to oppose “anti-hooning” (anti-social behaviour) laws.
