Oppn to change or ditch ETS in govt

The saga of emissions trading could get longer, with the opposition planning to dump
or change the scheme if they win the next federal election.
The emissions trading scheme (ETS) was voted down by the Senate earlier this month;
the government will try again in November.
Even if the scheme gets through, that won't be the end of the story.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull says his party could change it at the next
election, due any time from late next year.
"We may well go to the election with proposals to amend it or change it," Mr
Turnbull told reporters in Sydney.
The Nationals want to go further - they would try to ditch the scheme if they won
government with the Liberals.
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce was asked on the Nine Network if he'd work to
have an ETS dismantled.
"Yes," he said.
"It is a ridiculous piece of economic policy that would destroy our nation and our
job is to be practical and pragmatic."
The Liberals and the Nationals - coalition partners - are increasingly at odds on
emissions trading.
This comes as some Nationals consider weakening the ties to their senior coalition
partner to shore up votes.
The Nationals decided at the weekend to vote down any version of the government's
proposed ETS.
The Liberals' position appears to be that they support an ETS, but want changes to
the government's model.
Mr Turnbull pointed out that the previous federal government, "a Liberal-National
Party government", went to the last election promising to have an ETS.
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said the Nationals' plan to dump the ETS showed
"the coalition could not be trusted on climate change".
The coalition would "take Australia backwards on climate change", Senator Wong said.