Today will be a great day for Australians who have waited years for their government to take our warming planet seriously.

After years of talk and a few backward steps, the Senate will pass a suite of legislation that will put a price on pollution from July next year.

Australians - who in 2007 and 2010 voted for politicians to back widespread community support for taking action - will be able to finally say that most of their elected representatives listened and acted.

Senator HANSON»-«YOUNG» (South Australia) (11:01): It is with great pride that I rise today to commend the Clean Energy Bill 2011 and associated bills to the Senate.

South Australia will benefit from the historic climate action package which finally puts a price on carbon to cut pollution, the Australian Greens said today.

"The Greens went to the 2010 election promising to take action on climate change, and at last we have the results after many months of negotiations," SA Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, said.

The Federal Opposition leader is being irresponsible in his claims that the OneSteel plant in Whyalla will close should a price on carbon pollution be introduced, the Greens said today.

"Mr Abbott is creating unnecessary anxiety among South Australians by claiming that putting a price on pollution will lead to OneSteel closing in Whyalla," South Australian Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, said.

"Just as he was plain wrong in claiming petrol prices would rise, he is wrong in talking up a One Steel closure.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (13:53):  I would like to very quickly make a few remarks, bearing in mind that this was a very controversial inquiry, and I thank the senators who participated and the secretariat for the work they have put into this committee.

Senator Ludlam spoke on the urgent need and realistic prospect of a cleanm energy economy in Western Australia at the Beyond Zero Emission launch in Perth March 2011.

Matthew Wright presented Beyond Zero Emissions' vision for a zero emission energy future for Australia - Perth March 2011.

Watch Senator Ludlam's speech from the launch here.

Suggestions by the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chamber of Minerals and Energy that nuclear power should be part of WA's energy supply by 2031 are unrealistic and outdated, the Australian Greens say.

The Greens have congratulated the growing number of Western Australians using renewable energy sources, and called on the State Government to abandon plans for more coal-fired power stations and do more to encourage renewable energy development in WA.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said more than 12,000 WA households have installed systems including solar, wind and micro-hydro power but the numbers would grow much more rapidly with the right policies in place.

Greens Deputy Leader, Christine Milne says a major opportunity now rests with Tasmania's new government in securing new employment opportunities following news of Burnie's soon to close paper mill.

"The announcement that the mill will close in July will at least provide certainty as to where the 165 workers stand. Months of enduring the possible threat of unemployment would have certainly taken it's toll on many North West families.