By ABC online parliamentary correspondent Emma Rodgers
Nationals Senate Leader Barnaby Joyce denies he has opened up a split within Coalition ranks over the Government's carbon trading scheme.
Senator Joyce says he remains staunchly against any carbon trading scheme despite Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull confirming that the Coalition will eventually support one.
But Senator Joyce says he has not split the Coalition, because he says Mr Turnbull does not yet have a policy. (MY COMMENT hahahahahahahahaha so true).
"Only Kevin Rudd has a policy that we're about to vote for. You tell me what Malcolm Turnbull's policy is? I haven't seen Malcolm Turnbull's policy." he told ABC 2 News Breakfast.
Senator Joyce is unapologetic about his stance, saying it is the "reality of politics".
"There are two parties - the Liberal Party and the National Party," he told News Radio.
Yesterday Mr Turnbull said he had "no doubt" there would be a carbon trading scheme in Australia, but the Opposition is refusing to bow to the Government's agenda of a vote on the legislation in June.
Instead Mr Turnbull wants to wait until after crucial international climate change talks in December.
But Senator Joyce says the Nationals will still be voting 'no' and has labelled the Government's plan an "employment termination scheme".
"I have serious doubts that we'll ever have an emissions trading scheme," he said.
"And I've serious doubts that what happens in Copenhagen is going to be of any consequence beyond earnest looks and sweeping motherhood statements and promises that we will do something at some foreseeable time."
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has slammed Mr Turnbull for pushing back the vote, accusing him of using the delay to cover up the Coalition split.
"I think what you're seeing is Mr Turnbull scrounging around for any excuse to delay a vote and the reason he needs to delay has been demonstrated by Senator Joyce's comments," she said.
The Lower House is expected to pass the legislation this week but the Government's chances of getting the scheme through the Senate now rest with crossbench senators.
However, how much progress the Government will make with the Greens is doubtful, with the Greens insisting on the target for emissions cuts being set at a minimum of 25 per cent - which is now the Government's maximum target.
Senator Wong is expected to hold talks with the Greens this week and Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says negotiations will be tough.
"We have said that we will start talking from a 25 per cent target," she said.
"So we're not prepared to green up a dud, we actually want a system that will address climate change and produce real outcomes."
But Senator Wong appears unlikely to budge on the targets.
"We think the targets we've put on the table are both ambitious but also achievable and we look forward to talking with the crossbenchers about why we think this scheme ... is the right scheme for Australia."
But Senator Joyce has issued a strong warning about dealing with the Greens to get the scheme through.
"If you were going to go to the Greens to devise an emissions trading scheme you are going to have a piece of policy that comes direct from the manic monkey cafe of inner-surburban nirvana-ville straight to you," he said.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Family First Senator Steve Fielding also have their concerns with the scheme.
Senator Xenophon held meetings with staff from Senator Wong's office last week but Senator Fielding is yet to sit down for talks. Dave R.
