Coalition won't be pressured on emissions scheme: Hockey (ABC)

Federal Opposition frontbencher Joe Hockey says the Coalition will not be forced into declaring when it believes an emissions trading scheme should start. Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said yesterday that the Coalition would not support a scheme that started before 2011. He said preferably it should begin in 2012. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd accused the Opposition of playing politics with the emissions trading scheme and entangling the issue with the Liberal Party's leadership struggle. Mr Hockey has told ABC Radio's AM program that the Coalition cannot be expected to commit to a specific date until the Federal Government releases more information about its proposed scheme. "People will try and push us into a position that is not necessarily in the best interests of Australia," he said. "The Rudd Government is moving the... [read full story]