Australia: Climate may change but policies won't for now - National - smh.com.au

The tipping point for Dr Nelson's leadership came in July, as he struggled to harden policy on an emissions trading scheme. Seeking to move from a scheme in place by 2012 to no scheme until major polluters were acting, he split the party down the middle.

Ultimately the Coalition agreed to have a scheme in place "probably" by 2012, regardless of what other countries did.

In his final plea to the party room at Monday night's meeting, Dr Nelson looked for support from the climate change sceptics, who formed a majority. If re-elected leader, he would toughen the policy as he had tried to do in the first place, he said.

Yesterday Mr Turnbull said there was no change to what was agreed to in July - for now at least.