MALCOLM Turnbull may have said the Coalition leadership issue and support of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) legislation had been settled but someone in the party forgot to tell Hume MP Alby Schultz.
Mr Schultz told the News that he would still cross the floor on the ETS legislation despite the Government agreeing to the Coalition’s amendments and agriculture being removed from the scheme.
“Even with agriculture taken off it will have a huge impact on low-income earners in my electorate,” he said.
“Some members have said they support the legislation, but not all.
“The approval, with the convenient manipulation of voting figures, doesn’t alter my intent to vote against the legislation.”
Mr Schultz hinted he wouldn’t be alone in crossing the floor and supported the decisions by three shadow cabinet frontbenchers to resign on Wednesday in protest over the legislation.
“Those fellows have got principles. If they were going to vote against the leader, resigning was responsible,” he said.
“I am dumbfounded by my colleagues in marginal seats who think supporting the ETS will strengthen their position.”
The former Cootamundra councillor said by supporting the legislation the Liberals were effectively shooting themselves in the foot.
“I have been inundated with emails and phone calls on the issue. If we don’t show loyalty and compromise Liberal party principles, we will lose seats.”
Following the defeat of the attempted partyroom spill to oust Turnbull by former Howard government minister Kevin Andrews on Wednesday, Mr Schultz wouldn’t comment on whether the party should have a new leader.
But he did say passing legislation before the global Copenhagen summit was reckless.
“We are the only country in the world making an effort before Copenhagen and the legislation will have little affect on global emissions,” he said.
Voicing such public opposition to Mr Turnbull and the Coalition’s position didn’t worry Mr Schultz.
“I am not a career politic and never have been,” he said.
“I have been around a lot longer than some of my colleagues and supporting the leader to keep in favour may not please the electorate.”
Missing out on the gravy train did not concern Mr Schultz.
“I have certainly not had as many overseas trips as some of my colleagues.”
The veteran backbencher accused the government of scare mongering.
“Greg Combet deliberately ramped up the scare mongering campaign on climate change by inferring that the increased temperatures that are currently being experienced in the eastern states are a direct result of climate change,” Mr Schultz said.
“This is a deliberate scare mongering campaign designed to further the Prime Minister’s insatiable desire to declare at the upcoming Copenhagen Conference that Australia has passed climate change legislation.
“What Rudd and Combet continually fail to see, and hear, is the increasing public upheaval against this proposed tax, and in fact their declaration of rising temperatures being caused by climate change is indeed not true.”
Mr Schultz said the Greens would vote against it along with Senators Nick Xenophon and Steve Fielding but was unsure how many of his Coalition colleagues would vote against it.
Mr Schultz has often criticised Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce but both rural MPs are in agreement on blocking the bill.
Mr Joyce said his party would vote separately on the issue in the Senate.
A climate change sceptic, Mr Schultz simply doesn’t believe in the science the ETS legislation is based on.
“Most scientists recognise that temperature measurements in cities are influenced by non-climate things such as air-conditioners,” Mr Schultz said.
“Rather than continually using scare mongering and selective use of high temperatures to sell what many people now believe to be a hoax, it would be far more appropriate for Mr Rudd and Mr Combet to listen to what the people of Australia are saying on this issue.”
Mr Schultz said that by supporting the ETS legislation, the Coalition could be in Opposition for another two or three terms.
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