Abbott Says Coalition Has Mandate Amid Senate Carbon Challenge

Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott called on minor parties in the Senate to respect his coalition’s mandate after it won Australia’s election vowing to scrap carbon pricing and a mining tax.

While the Liberal-National coalition won the Sept. 7 vote with the biggest lower house majority since at least 2004, Abbott needs the backing of a clutch of independent and minor party lawmakers in the upper house to drive through his legislative agenda.