Plans for Aust emissions trading on track for 2010 start

There had been calls on the government to delay emissions trading because of the global financial crisis, and to allow for international climate negotiations to progress.

The federal opposition, which wants the scheme delayed by at least one year, moved a motion to delay it in the Senate on Thursday.

But the motion failed when Labor, the Greens and two cross-bench senators ganged up to defeat it.

The vote was significant because Labor may have to rely on the support of all seven cross-bench senators to pass its emissions trading scheme through parliament next year.