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Australia emissions plan in chaos Australia emissions plan in chaos
(about 2 hours later)
The Australian government's plans to enact a law for an emissions trading scheme have been thrown into chaos.The Australian government's plans to enact a law for an emissions trading scheme have been thrown into chaos.
A revolt within the opposition Liberal Party means a key deadline for the Senate to pass the legislation has been missed.A revolt within the opposition Liberal Party means a key deadline for the Senate to pass the legislation has been missed.
Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull had agreed with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to pass the scheme in the Senate, where the government is in a minority.Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull had agreed with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to pass the scheme in the Senate, where the government is in a minority.
If the Senate fails to pass the scheme, Mr Rudd can call a snap election.If the Senate fails to pass the scheme, Mr Rudd can call a snap election.
That could be an appealing option, as he would be expected to win by a very big margin, seriously damaging the Liberals.That could be an appealing option, as he would be expected to win by a very big margin, seriously damaging the Liberals.
Political wildernessPolitical wilderness
The Senate adjourned on Friday - its last scheduled day of business in 2009 - but agreed to return on Monday to continue debate on the package of 11 bills.The Senate adjourned on Friday - its last scheduled day of business in 2009 - but agreed to return on Monday to continue debate on the package of 11 bills.
There have been mass resignations from the opposition front bench, and the party is in open and angry rebellion.There have been mass resignations from the opposition front bench, and the party is in open and angry rebellion.
With a series of mass frontbench resignations on Thursday, and an open challenge from Tony Abbott, a senior party figure, even his supporters now concede that Malcolm Turnbull is political roadkill Nick Bryant, BBC News, Sydney Read more What's your climate solution?With a series of mass frontbench resignations on Thursday, and an open challenge from Tony Abbott, a senior party figure, even his supporters now concede that Malcolm Turnbull is political roadkill Nick Bryant, BBC News, Sydney Read more What's your climate solution?
Mr Turnbull said he would not stand down as leader. He warned that failure to support the climate change bill would consign the Liberals to the political wilderness.Mr Turnbull said he would not stand down as leader. He warned that failure to support the climate change bill would consign the Liberals to the political wilderness.
"We would be wiped out," he told Australian radio. "The vast majority of Australians want to see action on climate change."We would be wiped out," he told Australian radio. "The vast majority of Australians want to see action on climate change.
"If this legislation is knocked back, Kevin Rudd will have no choice but to go to a double dissolution election. This is a fundamental plank in his platform.""If this legislation is knocked back, Kevin Rudd will have no choice but to go to a double dissolution election. This is a fundamental plank in his platform."
But that argument has not carried any weight with a strong rump in his party who reject the scientific case that man is contributing to global warming, says the BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney.But that argument has not carried any weight with a strong rump in his party who reject the scientific case that man is contributing to global warming, says the BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney.
One leading climate change sceptic and senior party figure, Tony Abbott, has said he will challenge Mr Turnbull for the leadership on Monday.One leading climate change sceptic and senior party figure, Tony Abbott, has said he will challenge Mr Turnbull for the leadership on Monday.
Mr Rudd had wanted to pass the bill - aimed at cutting emissions by up to 25% of 2000 levels by 2020 - in time for the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.Mr Rudd had wanted to pass the bill - aimed at cutting emissions by up to 25% of 2000 levels by 2020 - in time for the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.
It was initially rejected by the Senate in August and revised to include more support for industry and farmers.It was initially rejected by the Senate in August and revised to include more support for industry and farmers.
Australia is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide per capita.


Are you in Australia? What kind of climate change bill would you support? What would you like the Copenhagen summit to achieve? Send us your comments.Are you in Australia? What kind of climate change bill would you support? What would you like the Copenhagen summit to achieve? Send us your comments.
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