Wong demands good faith climate talks

October 9, 2009 15:24:00
Updated October 9, 2009 15:39:00

Change Minister Penny Wong">

Government is ramping up pressure on the Coalition not to delay a second vote on the scheme (AAP: Alan Porritt)

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Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has warned the Opposition that the Government will not stand for a "take it or leave it" approach to negotiations on its emissions trading scheme.

As the issue continues to destabilise Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's leadership, the Government is ramping up pressure on the Coalition not to delay a second vote on the scheme.

Shadow cabinet is formulating amendments to the scheme but frontbenchers Tony Abbott and Ian MacFarlane have indicated that the Opposition will want the bulk of its amendments agreed to or the scheme will be rejected.

Senator Wong says the Opposition must negotiate in good faith.

"We don't want a take it or leave it approach, we want a good faith negotiation as Mr Turnbull said he would have," she said.

"Let's not have tricky procedural games in the Senate to avoid a vote."

"We're not giving anybody ultimatums," he told ABC Local Radio in Melbourne.

The issue has threatened to bring down Mr Turnbull's leadership, with a growing backbench push to reject the scheme when it comes before the Senate in November.

But Mr Turnbull says the Coalition must negotiate with the Government to improve the scheme and is confident he will get party room support for his stance at a meeting next Sunday.

"The responsible thing to do is for us is to engage constructively with the Government," he said.

"If they respond constructively then we may well be able to reach an agreement - if they don't, we won't."

Mr Turnbull is this afternoon on his way to Perth ahead of the Western Australian Liberal Party state conference where a motion will be debated, urging negotiation on the scheme to be delayed.

Tags: climate-change , government-and-politics , federal-government , emissions-trading , australia