Turnbull confident in climate showdown

Embattled Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull was confident of a win in a climate
change showdown with his party on Sunday.

Coalition MPs have begun a special meeting in parliament house to thrash out a
policy on emissions trading.
Mr Turnbull's leadership is on the line over the issue, with some MPs opposing his
plan to amend the government's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and pass it this year.
But Mr Turnbull was feeling confident as coalition MPs entered parliament house for
the meeting, which began at about 3.45pm (AEDT) and was expected to go for several
hours.
"I am confident that we will emerge from the party room with a set of amendments
that will protect thousands of Australian jobs," Mr Turnbull told reporters before
the meeting.
"We are absolutely committed to negotiating in good faith ... that is what we have
to do."
"At this stage we are hoping to reach agreement with the government."
The ETS is the government's main weapon against climate change and is due to start
in 2011.
The government needs the coalition's support to get the scheme through parliament.
Liberal MPs, including those who have previously spoken out against Mr Turnbull's
climate policy, said Sunday's meeting was likely to approve the business-friendly
ETS amendments.
MPs appeared calmer on the issue than when it blew up several weeks ago - a time
when Turnbull opponents talked of a possible leadership challenge.
On Sunday, many said they planned to speak at the meeting, but they did not expect
fireworks.
Some indicated they planned to vote against the ETS no matter what. MP Dennis Jensen
said he hadn't ruled out crossing the floor to vote down the scheme.
Senator Julian McGauran said he would never support an ETS.
Vocal ETS critic Wilson Tuckey said coalition MPs were feeling obliged to create
party unity by backing Mr Turnbull's stance on Sunday, but he warned that some
senators might not follow him into voting for the ETS.
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has thrown a curve ball into the debate, saying
parliament could sit extra weeks in November and December to provide enough time for
a vote on the ETS.
This would make it hard for the opposition to delay the vote by lengthy debate. The
government wants a vote before UN climate talks begin in Copenhagen on December 7.
But Mr Turnbull said he couldn't see any need for extra sitting weeks.
He may have been heading for a win on the proposed amendments, but the ETS issue
will not be fully resolved on Sunday.
Once the amendments are passed, negotiations between the opposition and the
government begin.
The government may approve some amendments and reject others.
The coalition will then hold a final meeting on the issue, deciding whether to
strike a deal or block the scheme.