JOE HOCKEY likened Wilson Tuckey to the crazy uncle at a family wedding yesterday as the Coalition started to tear itself apart over how to deal with Labor's proposed emissions trading scheme.
Backbenchers traded insults, the Nationals split from the Liberal leadership, and the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, declared his opponents a divided rabble as they sparred over when and if it should negotiate with Labor over the legislation.
The renegade backbencher, Mr Tuckey, stirred trouble on Tuesday when he emailed every colleague attacking the embattled leader, Malcolm Turnbull, as arrogant and inexperienced. Mr Tuckey, who opposes an emissions trading scheme, was angry when Mr Turnbull appeared to suggest on Monday that the Coalition could propose amendments to Labor's scheme and sort the matter out by next month.
The Coalition agreed at its last party room meeting to oppose the scheme when the Senate votes on August 13.
If the Government reintroduced the bill in November, creating the potential for it to become a double-dissolution trigger, the party would decide what to do then.
Mr Turnbull and most other Liberals believe the Coalition will be wiped out if there is an early election on climate change.
The NSW frontbencher Bob Baldwin fired back at Mr Tuckey with an email also sent to all colleagues. He called Mr Tuckey's behaviour "absolutely disgraceful and unforgivable, particularly from someone who boasts so much experience … Perhaps he should consider packing his bags".
The Queensland MP Michael Johnson emailed his colleagues appealing for unity and calm after watching Tuesday night's first episode of the new SBS series on the rise of John Howard.
"If we are not to repeat the 13 years of heartbreaking, gut-wrenching and miserable opposition between Hawke and Howard, we must find a way to work together and stay united," he said.
The Nationals leader, Warren Truss, distanced himself from Mr Turnbull yesterday by suggesting the Coalition go down fighting. "We have principles," he said. "We have issues that we stand up for, and if we want the public to support us in an election - whether it be a normal routine election in two years' time or some kind of contrived double dissolution - then the public will want to be sure we're standing up for things and that we will deliver better outcomes for the country."
Mr Turnbull is committed to the original plan of opposing the bill next month and dealing with it in November should it be reintroduced.
The shadow treasurer, Mr Hockey, tried to play down Mr Tuckey's role: "Every family has an uncle who goes a little wild at the family wedding." But he added further confusion by leaving open the potential for a deal in August if the Government was prepared to negotiate.
"We will not vote for the Government's flawed, job-destroying emissions trading scheme in the first week of Parliament if it remains unchanged."
One anti-Turnbull backbencher said the Coalition was "going to get done like a dinner" regardless of when the election was held. "We might as well get done like a dinner with our principles intact."
A Turnbull supporter said an emissions trading scheme was Coalition policy. The Opposition should go ahead and propose amendments and get the issue off the table. "In the end, if 10 of our people cross the floor, good luck to them." Labor, not the Coalition, would be blamed if the policy proved a disaster, he said.
Mr Rudd said trying to negotiate with the Coalition in its current state was inconceivable. It should concentrate on fighting climate change, not each other, he said.
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