This follows Labor ruling out negotiations unless the Opposition has specific amendments.

But shadow cabinet has left open the position the Opposition will adopt when the legislation comes back, as expected, in November.

It can be a double-dissolution election trigger if rejected twice, which Mr Turnbull is desperate to avoid.

Some frontbenchers, including Tony Abbot and Christopher Pyne, argued that if the Opposition planned to roll over in November, it should compromise earlier.

The shadow cabinet yesterday confirmed it would not move specific amendments in August, but Mr Turnbull has indicated some are likely later.

Mr Turnbull last Friday outlined nine principles he said the Government should meet to win Opposition support for the ETS.

But the Government dismissed these as a shopping list.

Mr Turnbull said there was not time to draft amendments before August 13.

Yesterday’s decision was in line with his position.

The Opposition leader has been under fresh pressure on the issue this week because of his and the Coalition’s bad poll ratings.

The poll also showed 45 per cent against the introduction of an ETS before the December Copenhagen climate conference, although it did not ask about the passage of legislation before then.

Mr Turnbull yesterday accused Kevin Rudd of "breathtaking and reckless" arrogance for refusing to negotiate with the Opposition.

"We've put very detailed proposals on the table and he has so little concern for the jobs of Australians and our major industries that he’s not even prepared to talk."

The Government’s approach would devastate the coal industry, Mr Turnbull said.

"There will be billions of dollars of investment in new mines that will not go ahead and other mines that will close and thousands of Australians will lose their jobs."