lib discontent grows

Lib discontent grows

Tony Abbott is facing growing discontent among his colleagues about his $3.2 billion Direct Action plan to combat climate change.

Liberal MPs Mal Washer and Dennis Jensen say the Coalition should review or consider abandoning parts of the policy in the light of "dire economic circumstances".

Discontent about the Coalition's environment policy comes in the same week as MPs broke ranks to publicly criticise Mr Abbott's paid parental leave scheme as economically irresponsible.

Meanwhile, the release of the Coalition's industrial relations policy on Thursday too - as expected - drew fire from the business community for not going far enough.
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But the angst about Mr Abbott's alternative to the carbon tax is a new front for the Opposition Leader to combat as he heads towards an election in September that he is strongly favoured to win, according to polls.

"If we are not going to get a big environmental bang for our buck then we ought not to do it," said the West Australian MP Dr Washer.

"The policy needs to be reviewed and only the valuable parts need to be retained … in light of dire economic circumstances," he said.

It is understood others in the Coalition are concerned about the Direct Action plan but will not say so publicly. Mr Abbott has vowed to scrap the carbon tax and reduce pollution and improve the environment through a fund that gives financial incentives to companies that cut carbon emissions. It will cost $3.2 billion over four years.

A government analysis on Thursday showed that electricity generated by highly polluting coal-fired power plants had fallen 14 per cent since the introduction of the tax, while renewable power had soared.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/lib-discontent-grows-20130509-2jau3.html#ixzz2SpuPBkcy

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