Mongrel ETS dead on arrival

So the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party have learnt some solid lessons from the disintegration of the Democrats on how to shred a political party, and along the way have handed the poisoned chalice of leadership to the "Mad Monk" Tony Abbott - by the overwhelming margin of one vote, courtesy of one of them voting informally!

This leaves the Rudd/Wong/Turnbull hybridised, mongrelised and hopelessly compromised Emissions Trading Scheme still-born. A good thing methinks.

And as predicted here, it could very well open up the possibility of the Greens getting a senator elected in the ACT next year, and immediately holding the balance of power in the Senate.

And that could lead us towards an entirely different ETS - one that could actually achieve what it sets out to do. Penalise polluters and reward those who don't. And protect our quality of life along the way from the harm that would be caused by rapid environmental degradation.

Another good thing.

Thanks Malcolm. Although I'll never forgive you for the harm done to the republican cause, you've done well this time.

PS: ABC 666 radio delivered an amusing insight into the behind-the-scenes lobbying that must have been going on before this leadership vote. Over a 10-minutes live interview with Canberra Liberal Senator Gary Humphries on his mobile, the 'call waiting' pips were coming thick and fast, with at least a dozen calls trying to get through to him.