Fed: Tuckey unrepentant after party meeting

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2009
Fed: Tuckey unrepentant after party meeting

CANBERRA, Aug 12 AAP - Unrepentant Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey is delighted the federal
coalition will vote down Labor's emissions trading scheme in the Senate.

The veteran West Australian MP has angered most of his colleagues for publicly describing
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull as "inexperienced and arrogant" over climate change
policy.

Mr Tuckey had threatened to use a party room meeting on Tuesday to say to Mr Turnbull's
face what he said in an email distributed to his colleagues.

"In fact I made my comments and laid out the history of the matter," he told reporters
on Wednesday.

The purpose was to get the party's stance on Labor's planned emissions trading scheme
"back on track".

"And the first thing that happened yesterday was that the leader committed to opposing
this legislation."

"I was very delighted about that situation."

Liberal frontbencher Ian Macfarlane had a different recollection of the meeting, saying
Mr Tuckey had been reminded of his responsibilities to represent his constituents, not
attack his leader on baseless grounds.

"I am sure Wilson has understood it," he told reporters.

"He has no support at all in the party room and the reality is that the coalition wants
to work together and Wilson has been reminded of that."

AAP mb/rl/ldj

KEYWORD: LIBERALS TUCKEY

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