Tony Abbott - 'Useless, destructive carbon tax has gone'

Australia's Senate has voted to repeal the country's tax on carbon emissions, after two years of rancour between supporters and opponents.

The abolition of the carbon tax was one of the main priorities set by the prime minister, Tony Abbott, during his election campaign last year.

He argued that the tax was a burden on industry and consumers in a country dependant on coal-fired power stations.

Speaking to reporters after the vote, Mr Abbott said he had kept his pledge to the Australian people.