Govt not planning to trigger election

Voters can breathe a sigh of relief.
The federal government isn't planning to use its junked climate change laws to
trigger an early election - at least for the moment.

Tony Abbott contained dissent within the Liberal Party to bring down the Rudd
government's contentious emissions trading scheme (ETS) on Wednesday, his first full
day as opposition leader.
Only two Liberal senators - Judith Troeth and Sue Boyce - crossed the floor to back
the carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS), or ETS, short of the seven votes the
Rudd government needed to get it through the parliament.
But the government isn't giving up and will re-introduce an amended version of its
CPRS - based on the deal struck with former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull - on the
first day of parliament next year.
The government wants to ramp up pressure on Liberal moderates who want action on
climate change but have been deterred from crossing the floor by the change of
leadership.
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard told reporters the government would give "calmer
heads" in the Liberal Party time to consider acting in the national interest.
It also means the government won't be using its double dissolution trigger - caused
by the second parliamentary rejection of the CPRS - for an early election any time
soon.
Ms Gillard denies the government is running scared of another election on climate
change, given coalition claims the issue is a sore point for voters.
"No one should underestimate the determination of the Rudd government ... to make
sure we act on climate change and we see this bill passed," she said.
The government will still be able to use the trigger, even when the laws are
re-introduced.
A more likely scenario, however, is that if the bill fails a third time, the
government will try to have the laws passed once more, around May, giving it a
second trigger and avoiding accusations about going too readily to an early
election, a move unpopular with the public.
Mr Abbott made it clear he wouldn't give the government an easy ride, signalling a
major change of policy and ruling out an ETS or carbon tax as part of his plans.
"We have changed our policy in response to what I think is a growing demand from the
Australian people to see a contest in this area," he said.
While he may be overhauling climate change policy, Mr Abbott won't have to do major
surgery on his front bench after failed leadership rival Joe Hockey agreed to stay
in the important treasury portfolio.
The decision helps keep a lid on talk of tension within the Liberal Party.
"It's certainly my absolute determination to ensure that the shadow ministry
reflects the broad church of the Liberal Party," Mr Abbott said.
Mr Abbott has promised no recriminations as he begins the difficult task of
rebuilding a party riven by disunity after a long and rancorous debate on climate
change under the stewardship of Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull, who lost to Mr Abbott by the slimmest margin, remains wedded to the
CPRS and has been using a variety of social media platforms to express
disappointment that the ETS was rejected.
Another failed contender in the leadership stakes, Peter Dutton, who was running as
Joe Hockey's deputy, has warned the government against underestimating Mr Abbott.
"From govt we underestimated krudd (Kevin Rudd). Labor will make the same mistake
with Tony at their peril," he said on his twitter account.
The first test of the new leader's popular appeal will be in by-elections in
Bradfield and Higgins at the weekend.
Mr Abbott admits they will be tough.
"I would be surprised if our candidates got the same margins that their predecessors
had at the last election," he said.
The new leader plans to get "out and about" in the next few days to understand what
the public wants from the coalition.