THE Rudd Government has given the Opposition less than a month to finalise the changes it wants to the emissions trading scheme or be frozen out and risk an early election.
In a terse letter to Malcolm Turnbull yesterday, the Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, said the Opposition has had enough time to reach a position.
Senator Wong, who is in New York, has given Mr Turnbull until Parliament resumes on October 19 to finalise his desired amendments or "the Government's capacity to consider these amendments seriously and with appropriate prudence would be significantly constrained".
She said the Government remained "willing to engage in discussions in good faith and with a clear focus on the national interest".
"It is difficult to see how the Opposition could enter into a good faith negotiation with the Government if the time frame outlined in this letter is not met."
The ultimatum was prompted by the Sydney Morning Herald's interview, published yesterday, with the Opposition's new emissions trading spokesman, Ian Macfarlane.
With the Coalition bitterly divided, Mr Macfarlane said a series of amendments was being written and would be ready for consideration by the shadow cabinet in a fortnight. It would be put to the party for approval when Parliament resumed.
Mr Macfarlane believed the two-week sitting period would be needed to sort out a final position.
"That gives us two weeks of Parliament where the party room can have direct input into the negotiations and that's my goal," he said.
"At the end of the parliamentary sitting, we've then got another two weeks to basically prepare for the legislation," he said.
The Government will reintroduce the legislation in mid-November. If it is blocked by the Senate, as it was in August, the Government would have a trigger for a double-dissolution election.
Senator Wong is not prepared to allow the Coalition party room the whole October fortnight to debate the amendments. She wants them presented "immediately" after Parliament resumes so the Government has enough time to consider them before the November sittings.
The first party room meeting is not scheduled until October 20.
"The legislation has been available in its final form for more than three months and the policy process has been under way for over 18 months. I would therefore expect the four weeks between now and October 19 to be ample time for the Opposition to finalise amendments," Senator Wong said.
It is implicit that if it misses the deadline, the Coalition risks an early election by stating the legislation to be reintroduced in November will be exactly the same as that rejected in August.
The ultimatum increases the pressure on Mr Turnbull, who faces a revolt within the party room to delay any negotiation until next year, after other nations have stated their intentions at the climate summit in Copenhagen.
He supports this position but also reasons the Coalition must be ready to do a deal in November because of the threat of an early election.
Mr Macfarlane told ABC Radio yesterday the Coalition's chances of winning an early election were "significantly diminished". After such an election, the Government would hold a joint sitting of Parliament and pass its bill, unamended. It was far better to negotiate in November to save jobs.
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