Turnbull mutiny gains pace

27 Nov 2009, 11:21 am   -   Source: AFP
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Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Julie Bishop has reportedly told Malcolm Turnbull to stand down as leader (AAP)

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Julie Bishop has reportedly told Malcolm Turnbull to stand down as leader (AAP)

Tony Abbott has put pressure on Malcolm Turnbull to change his mind on ETS or face a leadership challenge, as another high-profile Liberal resigns.

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Tony Abbott has put new pressure on Malcolm Turnbull to change his mind on the emissions trading scheme (ETS) or face a leadership challenge.

The news comes as another high-profile Liberal, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, has resigned from the frontbench, citing an 'extraordinary reaction to the ETS' from the NSW Liberal supporter base.

On Thursday, Mr Turnbull stared down a revolt by several Liberal MPs - led by Mr Abbott - who quit the opposition front bench over the ETS deal.

On Friday, Mr Turnbull - who survived a move to force a leadership spill on Wednesday - again declared he would not quit the leadership.

"I will not step down. I'll stay leader until the partyroom removes me as leader," he told the Seven Network.

Climate sceptics 'damaging party'

"I will not take a backward step, there's too much at stake. It's just not the credibility of the party."

He attacked Mr Abbott and climate sceptics in the party, accusing them of trying to damage the Liberal party.

"The people that are opposing me within the party do not believe in climate change at all. They make John Howard look like a greenie," he said.

"They are turning back the clock and Australians will punish us very, very severely at the next election if these guys have their way and we go to the election as the `do nothing on climate change party'."

Abbott 'letting down the team'

Speaking before Mr Abbott's announcement, Mr Turnbull said his former minister was letting the party down.

"Tony Abbott is letting down the whole Liberal party. There is not a position on the ETS Tony has not held."

Mr Abbott told Macquarie Radio on Friday that if Mr Turnbull refused to change his mind on the bill on Friday, he would push for a leadership spill on Monday and he would put his hand up for the job.

"I will be talking to colleagues this morning. If there is no movement from the bunker then I'll be calling a spill for Monday morning," he told Macquarie Radio on Friday.

The opposition's negotiator with the government on the bill, Ian Macfarlane, said he supported Mr Turnbull.

"I always support the leader and Malcolm Turnbull is showing real courage and real leadership," he told ABC Radio.

Turnbull 'courageous'

"It's not very long ago some of these people were calling for strong leadership but when they got it they didn't like it because it didn't agree with their particular policy.

"Well, that's democracy. The majority of people in the Liberal Party in Canberra support Malcolm Turnbull and will continue to do so."

Mr Macfarlane said the Senate would continue to debate the emissions trading legislation on Friday and into next week.

"It's still my understanding and expectation that the legislation will be passed," he said.

Liberal Senate leader Nick Minchin - who also tendered his resignation from shadow cabinet on Thursday - says he'll continue to push for the legislation to go to a Senate committee over the summer recess otherwise he'll vote against the bill.

Senator Minchin resigned from shadow cabinet on Thursday, amongst other Liberals who were also unhappy with Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's stance on the emissions trading scheme.

ETS needs seven votes

"I will participate in the debate to the extent that I indicated to Mr Turnbull and that is to vote for any amendments that refer the bill to a committee over the recess and if they are unsuccessful, I will vote against this legislation, if it comes up for the third reading," he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

Mr Turnbull said he expected Liberal senators to support the bill. Only seven are needed to get the government's ETS bill over the line.

"I expect the Liberal senators to vote in accordance with the decision of the partyroom and the shadow cabinet and that is to support the legislation which we made much better by getting the government to agree to some very significant amendments," Mr Turnbull said.

"We are at a turning point in the history of the Liberal party - we can either be seen as a party of tomorrow, a progressive party which believes in taking action on climate change, or we can go backwards."

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It's Time to Go.....

Over It - from Mackay, 3 years ago

Turnbull has had his dash and needs to walk. He's holding the party ransom to the political correctness of nice man Hockey who won’t stand against him but will take the job. Instead he is going to run his party into the ground by standing against Abbott who is simply the pawn in place to make the way clear for Hockey. Alternatively if Hockey wants to show himself as a real leader for the future he should recognise Turnbull’s position as untenable and stand against him for the good of the party

Requiem

James - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

As we watch the Coalition take it's last breath, I thought we could all join together to celebrate their great achievements and high points over the last few decades. ... ... ... *awkward silence* Well, I'm sure they achieved something, was great knowing you guys! And thankyou THANKYOU for putting Abbot forward as a leadership contender, the ALP is assured of electoral victory for many, many...MANY years to come.

ETS vs The environment

SARAH - from HERVEY BAY, 3 years ago

ETS is a tax policy not an environmental policy. ETS will not solve the problems of climate change and global warming. ETS will however make the nations poorer and less competetive. If we are really concerned about the environment we should be protecting the green cover of our planet. Threes and all green cover absorb carbon , cool the planet and create water. This is all elementary school science. Politician's silence on this basic science is deafening. All we hear, " we have to have ETS!"

Bravo Malcolm Turnbull.

Roger Snow - from Brisbane, 3 years ago

Bravo Malcolm Turnbull. As the Liberal/Coalition party crisis unfolds, I take my hat off to Mr Turnbull for standing his ground on climate change. The Liberal party should be proud to finally have a leader who has the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what is right in the face of such farcical & childish displays of dummy spitting by their Liberal & National colleagues. Simply, Mr. Turnbull argument makes logical sense and if I wasn't a centre left supporter, he'd definitely get my vote.

Principles

PR - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

Finally MT has spoken passionately about what he believes in and not just trying to point score. He had a mandate from his party to negotiate in good faith. The party sceptics did not believe they would negotiate the deal they did and now have egg on their face. At least we have a position upon which we can either agree or disagree - unlike his so called party elite who still have not said what they stand for. Go MT.

Arrogance?

Rob - from Sydney, 3 years ago

This is not Turnbull arrogance. Arrogance is of his opponents. Opponents within his party, how arrogant are they to think that going to an election with "no ETS" will go well with the voters? Opponents within the Labour party, how arrogant are they in the way they have the voters conned through their spin doctoring and deceit?

I just vote Green

Nick - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

It's good that this is all turning into a mess. Soon everyone will clearly see the alternative. THE GREENS. Liberal and Labor can fight and moan about who should be their leaders and the ETS but at the end of the day neither Liberal or Labor care about the environment. Really the Greens are the only party that have rational solutions to Climate Change. 5% cut on 1990 Greenhouse gas levels by 2020 by Rudd is failure on saving the environment. As a voters I will vote Green at the next election.

You must be joking!!!!!

Aml - from Adelaide, 3 years ago

I am ashamed to hear that some of the Liberal leaders (MPs) are skeptic that the climate change is not happening! What's wrong with them? May be they are living on Mars or smething?

LIBERAL LEADERSHIP

Dhyzee - from East Frem, 3 years ago

No to Tony Abbott - his catholic beliefs are detrimental to women. No to Julie Bishop - the up tight, designer clothes horse. Joe Hocking - maybe - still the 'next door neighbour' type. Who is left - arrogant, wealthy, verbal bully Turnbull.

The real issue

Reasonable - from Sydney, 3 years ago

Its a shame everyone is so sidetracked by the liberal party shenanigans to realise that the real issue here is the ETS itself. I don't see how anyone can vote for it, given that it won't cut Australia's emissions one iota.

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