Australia's commitment to slash carbon pollution by up to 25 percent was in jeopardy Sunday, as rebel opposition politicians refused to support the deal.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wants legislation on an emissions trading scheme, which would cut greenhouse gas emissions by between five to 25 percent from 2000 levels by 2020, in place ahead of a global summit on climate change in Copenhagen.
But it is uncertain whether the bipartisan deal, which was agreed by the governing centre-left Labor Party and opposition conservative Liberal Party, will pass the Senate after several rebel Liberals said they would oppose it.
"We should delay it and if that means talking it out, that means talking it out," former Liberal minister Kevin Andrews said.
His colleague Senator Nick Minchin said he too would oppose the law, arguing that Australia should not make firm commitments until other nations put theirs on the table at the talks in Copenhagen set to begin on December 7.
"It's about what's the right thing to do for Australia and in my view the right thing to do for Australia is not to rush this legislation through the parliament this week," he said.
The Senate rejected earlier legislation in August and on Friday missed a deadline for the passage of the laws, sparking deep divisions among the Liberal Party which has committed to supporting the bill.
If the Senate rejects the bill again, Rudd could call a "double dissolution" election.
