LIBERAL leader Malcolm Turnbull is adamant that there is majority support within the Coalition to vote in favour of Labor's amended emissions trading scheme legislation, and has shouldered responsibility for the unravelling of his party and the threats to his leadership by declaring, "I'm the leader, I've made the call".
But he is now facing a leadership spill on Thursday as angry members seek to overturn his decision.
Mr Turnbull fronted the media after a tumultuous day in Canberra in which Labor gave significant concessions, including a major boost to agriculture and food processors, in order to appease the Coalition's concerns about the impacts of the ETS.
"[The deal] is good for the environment, it's good for farmers and it offers us the best ... near-term opportunity for CO2 abatement," Mr Turnbull said.
"There is no question that a majority of the party, and the joint party room, support the strong recommendation of the shadow cabinet [to vote in favour of the amended legislation]."
And while the Coalition's shadow cabinet was quick to endorse the deal, it is clear the joint Liberal-National party room was harder to convince, culminating after seven hours of talks in angry scenes and threats of a leadership spill against Mr Turnbull.
A number of tallies of the sentiment of the backbenchers who spoke at the party room meeting indicated the majority were in favour of either deferring or voting against the amended ETS legislation.
This included former Coalition climate change spokesman Andrew Robb, who shocked the party room by defying his leader and passionately arguing against the amended scheme, saying it was "just not good enough".
According to sources within the meeting, 39 speakers spoke against voting for the ETS amendments and just 33 were in favour.
But when Malcolm Turnbull factored in the support of the shadow cabinet members, who did not speak in the party room, he calculated that the majority of the party was in favour of the amendments.
Mr Turnbull's declaration that the party would be pressing ahead in supporting the amendments, and his claim to majority support for his stance, angered members and prompted chaotic scenes in the corridors of Parliament House.
Liberal Senators were particularly angered after the decision was announced while they were out of the meeting and voting on division within the Senate chamber.
Dissident Liberal Wilson Tuckey had earlier threatened to call for a leadership spill for this Thursday, but such were the emotions after Turnbull's declaration of victory that it appeared there would be an immediate leadership spill.
And while that did not eventuate, a spill has now been formerly requested to be held on Thursday.
Former Howard government minister Kevin Andrews told the media that he would stand against Turnbull if a spill was called.
Mr Andrews said Mr Turnbull had read the mood of the party room differently to the rest and that "needs to be challenged".
Backbencher Bronwyn Bishop said that "the party room needs to be listened to".
There also appeared to be strong support for Tony Abbott as the alternative leader.
It is clear that while the immediate threat has passed, Mr Turnbull's leadership is by no means secure, with Mr Tuckey reiterating his call for a leadership spill to be held on Thursday.
After Mr Turnbull's decision so obviously angered the partyroom, key figures tried to persuade their leader to adopt a position of deferring a final decision due to the imminent danger to his hold on the party leadership.
The Coalition had argued the merits of the legislation since 10am, with only a break for Question Time.
During that period the chances of the Coalition agreeing to the deal on offer from the Labor Government plummeted as the extent of backbench anger become increasingly apparent.
At lunch sources indicated a two-thirds majority were in favour of the amended ETS; that then slipped to 50:50 and then the tallies of party room sentiment were in the negative.
Sources say the atmosphere within the meeting was hostile at times, but that Mr Turnbull remained calm until his final announcement at which time he appeared rankled.
Notably, influential figures who have a keen eye for the detail of the legislation, told the meeting that the amendments would cost the taxpayer an extra $7 billion and not deliver any extra reduction in carbon emissions.
The resistance to Labor's package comes despite Labor's amendments providing for 75 per cent of the Coalition's demands.
Shadow Cabinet backed the package which was offered by the Government in bid to garner bipartisan support for its ETS and have the legislation pass the Senate this week.
Mr Macfarlane told reporters in Canberra prior to the party room meeting that he was very pleased with deal and described the negotiated package as "exceptional".
Sources earlier said Mr Turnbull needed up to 70pc of the joint party support vote on the deal for his on-going leadership position to be tenable.
It is now clear that both the party and his leadership are severely - if not irrevocably - wounded.
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