Abbott set to resign

26 November, 2009 by

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott

Another blow for Malcolm Turnbull:

MALCOLM Turnbull’s leadership is about to be thrown back into turmoil with the resignation of frontbencher, Tony Abbott.

Mr Abbott is expected to announce his resignation from the frontbench this afternoon to allow him to vote against the Rudd Government’s ETS.

Other Ministerial resignations may follow and trigger another Liberal party room meeting to challenge Mr Turnbull’s leadership.

It is likely that Liberal Senate Leader Nick Minchin will vote against the CPRS bill in the Senate and means that he too has to resign from the frontbench.

Mr Abbott’s resignation will throw the Liberals into further chaos and bring fresh doubt as to whether the CPRS bill will pass the Senate.

At least some in the Liberal party still have principles. Remember them?

It ain’t over yet.

Read it here (h/t Andrew Bolt)

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , , ,

Liberal senators to cross floor on ETS vote

26 November, 2009 by

From The Australian:

AT least 12 of the 32 Liberals sitting in the Senate appear to be preparing to cross the floor on the emissions trading bills when a Senate vote is finally held, either on Saturday or early next week.

With the five Nationals senators, five Greens senators and two independent senators also planning to vote no — for a variety of reasons — there could be 24 or more of the 76 senators voting against the bills.

At least one Liberal senator, Mary Jo Fisher, will “actively abstain” — registering her dissent not by voting “no” but by sitting at the back of the chamber.

Frontbench senators Nick Minchin and Eric Abetz were absent from votes on the procedural motions yesterday.

But despite their strong opposition to the ETS, as frontbench members they will be expected to vote for the amendments negotiated between Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull and the Rudd government, and also for the final bill.

At least some senators can see the pointlessness of the ETS…

Read it here.

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: ,

Climate Madness: Turnbull stays, ETS inches closer

25 November, 2009 by

The effect of the ETS on climate

The effect of the ETS on climate

So here we are, Australian Climate Madness prevails, as Malcolm Turnbull survives the leadership challenge, and the ETS inches ever closer to becoming law.

So as we enter into this new chapter in Australian stupidity, let’s remind ourselves of all the wonderful things the ETS will do:

  • nothing for climate
  • nothing for global temperatures
  • nothing for local temperatures
  • nothing for the Arctic
  • nothing for polar bears
  • nothing for the drought
  • nothing for the Great Barrier Reef
  • nothing for Kakadu
  • nothing for Tuvalu and all the other sinking islands
  • nothing for the ringtail possum and other cuddly creatures
  • nothing for bushfires and heatwaves
  • in fact, nothing for anything even remotely related to the climate

On the other hand:

  • everything to damage Australia’s economy
  • everything to damage Australia’s competitiveness
  • everything to increase the cost of living for ordinary Australians
  • everything to make the poorest in society worse off
  • everything to damage emissions intensive industries
  • everything to ensure that our industries move offshore
  • everything to create more unemployment
  • everything to raise electricity, gas and food prices
  • everything to ensure there isn’t a double dissolution
  • everything to make Kevin Rudd look big at Copenhagen
  • everything to assist a pointless global “deal”
  • everything to advance the cause of global government and global wealth distribution
  • everything to advance Kevin Rudd’s selfish aim to be UN Secretary General in 2015

Have I missed anything there? Leave a comment if I have.

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , , ,

Turnbull must go

25 November, 2009 by

The Three Stooges

The Three Stooges

Having watched the press conference by Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop and Ian Macfarlane last night, and listened to extracts of it again this morning, Turnbull’s actions in ignoring the will of the party room and agreeing to the ETS amendments proposed by Labor is one of the most extraordinary betrayals I have ever witnessed in politics.

Turnbull refused to comment on the numbers in the party room, but sources indicate that a majority of the party room spoke against accepting the amendments, with numbers approximately 41 – 33 against the government’s proposals.

But then Turnbull pulls a trick. The usual procedure is for the shadow cabinet to vote on the issue. This they did – in favour of accepting the amendments. The next step is for the issue then to be put to the party room – so according to this, it should have been rejected.

But what Turnbull did was add in the votes of the shadow cabinet to the party room result, thereby claiming that the “party room” was in favour, at the same time including Nationals front benchers in the shadow cabinet (who were actually against it), but excluding Nationals back benchers, who were also against it!

It was an astonishing display. Turnbull just kept repeating the phrase “I’m the leader and I’ve made the call”, so desperate is he to satisfy his own green tendencies against the will of the party room. All I can say is, I hope you won’t be leader for long.

To those in the Liberal party who voted against this climate madness, you cannot let this stand. You know what you need to do.

There is acres of coverage on this in the media as you would expect:

And for a bit of light relief, a Tale of Two Headlines, next to each other in this mornings reading list:

I know which one is nearer the truth…

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , ,

Coalition chaos

24 November, 2009 by

WTF?

WTF?

Well I’m not exactly sure if anybody knows what the hell happened tonight. Some reports are saying the party room backed the amendments, others say that a majority were against, some say Turnbull stormed out, others say there will be a leadership spill on Thursday. If anyone out there knows, please send an email or leave a comment, and enlighten me!

I’ve had enough for one day…

Andrew Bolt has some further information:

Backbenchers are furious at Turnbull for claiming in the press conference just finished that he had the support of a clear majority of members for agreeing to Rudd’s compromise bill.

“The reality is that he didn’t,” one told me. “He lied.”

It’s a mystery how Turnbull could claim support when some 41 of the 74 to speak at the meeting opposed a deal with Rudd. Those against included the respected Andrew Robb, who until his illness was the climate spokesman. It’s this opposition to an ETS that makes Joe Hockey, who supports it, an unlikely starter.

Turnbull is only a 50-50 chance to survive on Thursday, but his opponents are sure they’ll get him on a second challenge if they don’t blast him out at the first.

But does this sink Rudd’s bill? Depends how many Liberals cross the floor and vote for it, defying either Abbott or Andrews. But I wouldn’t be banking on it yet.

Read it here.

Sky News report that Turnbull pulled a sneaky trick by adding the shadow cabinet numbers to the party room ETS supporters, thereby securing the win (i.e. Adding the shadow cabinet to the 33 in favour to make it more than 41).

It’s ironic that Turnbull has resorted to fiddling the figures to push through the ETS, just like the warmists at CRU fiddled the temperatures to keep global warming alive.

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , ,

UPDATED: Leadership spill in Coalition party room? – No

24 November, 2009 by

Just listening to ABC Sydney 702 and there is talk of a leadership spill on the instigation of Wilson Tuckey… more to follow.

Apparently it was raised, but didn’t happen…

Andrew Robb’s change of position has sent shockwaves through the partyroom, however.

Still no news @ 7pm. Out of contact intermittently from now until 9.30.

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , ,

Government apply yet more ETS pressure

22 November, 2009 by

Get her face off my monitor…

Get her face off my monitor…

When will the Opposition finally say enough is enough? Here we have the playground bullies just taking the other kid’s sweets, when what the bully deserves is a smack. Penny Wong will have seen the credibility of the alarmist cause disappear up in smoke thanks to the CRU leaks [either that or she will be doing the “fingers-in-the-ears-and-shout-la-la-la” routine – Ed], and will be even more desperate to pass the legislation before people wise up:

The Federal Government will give the Opposition just two days to decide whether or not to vote for an amended emissions trading scheme.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says a deal on the scheme will be presented to the Opposition on Tuesday morning.

The Government wants a Senate vote on the scheme before Parliament adjourns for the year on Thursday night, but a bid last week to extend the sitting hours was rejected by all non-government senators.

Senator Wong has been negotiating amendments with the Opposition and she has told Channel Nine that the two are inching closer to a deal.

But every cloud has a silver lining. It dramatically increase the chance of a filibuster, so that this legislation can be sunk without the need for a vote.

Read it here.

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , ,

Turnbull "confident of ETS deal"

21 November, 2009 by

Too green for me

Too green for me

It seems a bit mundane to be discussing our local politics after the excitement of the last 24 hours, but I guess we must. Malcolm Turnbull is still pressing ahead with trying to negotiate the ETS through parliament:

ANTI-EMISSIONS trading scheme forces within the Coalition are ramping up their demands in a bid to make it impossible for the Liberal Party to back a climate change deal with the government, as the issue reignites speculation over the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull.

But the Liberal leader believes that he can win party support for an emissions trading deal if the Rudd government makes enough concessions for him to be able to recommend it.

“I am confident that if I recommend a deal, it will win the support of the shadow cabinet and the partyroom,” he told The Weekend Australian.

But that will depend on whether the government is prepared to give sufficient ground on the opposition’s amendments in the negotiations that will continue this weekend.

“My view is that we should responsibly and constructively seek to amend the government’s proposal,” Mr Turnbull said.

“If we cannot achieve amendments to our satisfaction then of course we’ll vote it down. If we can achieve amendments that satisfy our concerns then we should support it.”

Save us from this climate madness.

Read it here.

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , ,

Senate debate on ETS gets underway

18 November, 2009 by

After a perfectly reasonable delay yesterday to finish other important legislation (which the government, in its usual, cheap, point-scoring way used as a stick to batter the Opposition), debate on the ETS has finally got underway in the Senate. We’re in such an odd situation here, with debate going on in Parliament, and parallel back-room negotiations going on outside. With chummy assurances going on outside Parliament, and harsh rhetoric within. Bizarre.

The Opposition just look like a bunch of wet rags, dancing to the Government’s tune – it’s pathetic. But at least inside the chamber, the Coalition are doing a passable impression of an Opposition:

Liberal senator Ian Macdonald has kicked off upper house debate on the government’s planned emissions trading scheme, dubbing it a “shambles.”

The suite of 11 bills setting up Labor’s carbon pollution reduction scheme was voted down by all non-government senators in August.

The government reintroduced the draft laws to the lower house in October, and on Monday used its numbers in that chamber to send them onto the Senate.

Senator Macdonald foreshadowed a difficult debate on the legislation.

“It’s going to be one of the most difficult debates to prosecute because the bill before the chamber today is exactly the same bill that the Senate voted down three months ago,” he told parliament on Wednesday.

“What we are debating today is a piece of flawed legislation that the Senate has already expressed its views on.”

The coalition and the government are currently negotiating amendments to the scheme, which are yet to be finalised.

“The government’s climate change policy is in a complete shambles,” Senator Macdonald said.

Then why on earth are you “negotiating” to pass it? Climate madness from the Opposition.

Read it here.

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: ,

Julie Bishop mentions the 'N'-word

17 November, 2009 by

The way ahead for Australia

The way ahead for Australia

And about time too. The government is plunging us headfirst into an emissions trading scheme, yet we rely almost entirely on coal and gas for electricity generation (if you discount a bit of hydro and a token solar panel and wind farm here and there). The US, UK, France and many other developed economies, on the other hand, have embraced nuclear power which will make it far less painful for them to cut back on fossil fuel use.

But here in Australia, we’re still stuck in the “Nuclear Power? No thanks” bumper sticker mentality. And in a country desperate to cut emissions and, more to the point, one which has the largest reserves of uranium in the world! It’s just too funny… or it would be if it weren’t so ludicrous.

But Julie Bishop has uttered the dreaded ‘N’-word and will no doubt suffer for it:

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop has also thrown a political hand grenade into the emissions trading debate demanding a “mature” debate on nuclear power.

…

Ms Bishop, the opposition foreign affairs spokesman, said Australia must have a debate about energy security and alternatives.

An opposition spokesman said today she had complained 19 out of 20 G20 economies were pursuing nuclear power. “It is time to have a mature debate,” she said.

Read it here.

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: ,
«Previous Page
Next Page»