how Liberal Party

leader Malcolm

Turnbull will survive

the fallout from his

decision to support the

Government's

emissions trading

scheme.

If the party was

wounded by events on

Wednesday, when Mr

Turnbull avoided a

leadership spill, yes

terday, it was

haemorrhaging.

After failing in a

last-minute bid to con

vince Mr Turnbull to

defer support for the

ETS, Tony Abbott re

signed from the front

bench.

He was followed in

quick succession by

half a dozen of his

colleagues, making Mr

Turnbull's position

virtually untenable.

There is talk of

another attempt at a

leadership spill as

early as today or poss

ibly on Monday.

If that happens, it

will be bad news for

Prime Minister Kevin

Rudd and his ETS as

any deal struck with

Malcolm Turnbull

would be void.

There have been

many losers within the

Liberal Party this

week. Whoever is

leader going forward

will have a huge job in

getting the party back

into electable shape.

Meanwhile, the mat

ter that started all this

_ Australia's response

to climate change _

remains unresolved.

That we are still so

far from having a suit

able action plan is the

biggest disappoint

ment of all.