The Wire

First item on the agenda for the Coalition, who faced their first day in parliament as government, was the repeal of the carbon and mining taxes. Tony Abbott says the government is simply acting on its mandate, but a closer look at the proposed legislation reveals a vast array of other cuts, which the Opposition says will leave many Australians worse off.

Also on the chopping block, a range of climate change initiative, and the cutting of the Labor Party’s School Kids Bonus. And Independents and The Greens are up in arms about changes to parliamentary rules which they say will limit their ability to represent the 20 per cent of Australians who didn’t vote for the major parties.