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Minor parties press for action

News Clippings Christian Kerr and Paul Maley, The Australian, December 01 2009

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THE minor parties are pushing the Liberals closer to a vote on the emissions trading scheme within days, with up to 12 Liberal senators prepared to support the legislation if they are given a free vote as demanded by Joe Hockey.

The opposition’s lead negotiator on the ETS Ian Macfarlane confirmed last night that up to 12 Liberals could back the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in the Senate no matter the outcome of this morning’s leadership vote.

Liberal Senate leaders were locked in negotiations with Family First senator Steve Fielding last night in a desperate effort to defer a vote on the CPRS bills until parliament returns in February.

Greens sources indicated late yesterday their party would not vote to defer the debate or move the guillotine, which would bring on a final vote.

A spokeswoman for government Senate Leader Chris Evans last night refused to nominate when the government might seek to end debate.

“Wewantto get this bill passed,” he said.

Senator Fielding stunned observers earlier yesterday with a suite of demands in exchange for support to delay a vote.

The Victorian called for a royal commission co-chaired by Ross Garnaut and prominent climate sceptic Ian Plimer to investigate the science behind climate change and the effectiveness of emissions reduction schemes in reducing emissions, and a Productivity Commission inquiry into the economic impact on Australia of introducing anETS before the rest of the world.

“Some people may laugh, but we need to get this right,” he said.

If a vote is not deferred, the amended ETS may still slip through the Senate if put to a vote.

Liberal sources last night nominated ACT senator Gary Humphries, Marise Payne of NSW, Queenslanders Sue Boyce and George Brandis, South Australian Simon Birmingham and Victorians Michael Ronaldson and Judith Troeth as potential providers of the seven votes the government needs to pass the bills.

Senator Troeth said she strongly supported a conscience vote on emissions trading.

``I would pass it,’’ she told The Australian. ``I think this vote should go through and I’m totally supportive of an amended bill on the CPRS.’’ Senator Boyce also said she would pass the bill. Senator Humphries signalled the same.

``We have this major international conference happening in a couple of weeks time,’’ the ACT senator told Sydney’s 2UE.

``It’s hard to see how the Liberal Party can’t be part of the dialogue in Australia at least about where we should be heading with emissions trading after this time, so I believe that we do need a position.

``The negotiations between Ian Macfarlane and Penny Wong have hammered out, I think, a better emissions trading scheme than what we would have had.

``We should be moving forward in that framework rather than saying, `No, no, no, it’s all too unclear, we’re going to go back for another inquiry or we don’t know there’s really such a thing as global warming so let’s dip out of this conversation for the next few years’.’’