Labor's carbon tax measure is expected to be passed on Wednesday morning by the House of Representatives after the party has secured sufficient support for Clean Energy Future Bill 2011 and 17 associated Bills 74-72.

The carbon tax bill passed second reading vote Tuesday night 74 to 73.

"Today is a significant day for Australians and the Australians of the future who want to see a better environment," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

She said significant changes in law, such as the carbon tax, will need constant explaining to the public for Australians to understand and absorb it. Ms Gillard insisted now is the time to act on the carbon tax because if Australia would delay its implementation until 2015, it would cost $5 billion more to implement the carbon tax.

The passage of the package was made easier after opposition MP Sophie Mirabella was expelled from the house for 24 hours.

Ms Mirabella was thrown out of the House by another Liberal, Deputy Speaker Peter Slipper, after she rejected to accept a ruling that prohibited her from tabling an anti-carbon tax petition. The opposition's industry spokeswoman is not new to Mr Slipper's expulsion orders since she has been regularly ejected over question time interjections. She will remain suspended until 10:30 p.m. of Wednesday.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott has vowed to repeal the law if the coalition would win.

"We will repeal this tax, we will dismantle the bureaucracy associated with it," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Mr Abbott.

"I think we've got a prime minister who is the great betrayer of the Australian people," Mr Abbott said. He added that the parliament lacked the mandate to introduce a carbon tax.

"For Tony Abbott, this is all about the politics and political theatre.... We should not take his assertions about repeal seriously, they don't deserve to be believed," Ms Gillard said.

Ms Gillard pointed out that the carbon tax would apply only to Australia's largest polluters and most households would be compensated for price increases caused by the carbon tax.

Mr Abbott claimed the carbon tax would result in a higher cost of living for Australians and it would lead to less job security.

Greens leader Bob Brown supports the carbon tax and said Australia would "be all the better for it." The measure, which will go to the Senate next, is expected to face smoother sailing because of the Greens support for the carbon tax.

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