Australia: Six desert leader over emissions

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The disgruntled backbenchers, mostly climate change sceptics, were upset that a statement made public by Dr Nelson after yesterday's meeting said Australia needed an emissions trading scheme "not before 2011 and probably by 2012".

They said a loose commitment had not been agreed upon at the partyroom meeting, which ran for five hours and featured dozens of robust exchanges.

They wanted no date published, but Dr Nelson said that was unreasonable and he had the backing of his senior frontbenchers, including Mr Turnbull. "There's no change at all," Dr Nelson said. "The party room endorsed the shadow cabinet position."