Reaping the whirlwind

Opponents of the emissions trading scheme within the Coalition have embarked on a high-risk strategy, writes Norman Abjorensen in Inside Story TWO YEARS AGO the Liberal Party, dazed by defeat, suddenly roused itself. A usurper had stepped forward to grasp the leadership. With John Howard and Peter Costello both out of the equation and Tony Abbott lacking the numbers, Malcolm Turnbull was clearly the frontrunner in the confused aftermath of defeat. But there was enough anti-Turnbull sentiment to settle on a compromise candidate, the lacklustre Brendan Nelson, who managed to hold off the Turnbull challenge. The new leader ran to form, the Liberals languished in the polls, and Nelson was duly replaced by Turnbull, who had either won a few supporters or neutralised a few opponents during that unhappy period. A year later and the anti-Turnbull forces have not only regrouped, they have recruited in earnest; the party leader finding himself in a tiny minority faction as a burgeoning coalition of forces lines up against him. How could this happen?... Read the full article &nbsp