CANBERRA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Australia's Senate rejected attempts on Wednesday to delay a vote on the scheme, indicating that it may pass through parliament this week after months of political deadlock.
A motion to delay the vote, moved by opponents of the cap-and-trade scheme, represented the first test of support for the scheme since the government struck a deal with the opposition on Tuesday to secure its passage through the Senate.
Conservative National Party Senator Barnarby Joyce, a staunch opponent of carbon trading, appeared resigned that the legislation may now pass the Senate in a vote expected this week.
"It doesn't get us across the line (to reject the legislation)," said Joyce, referring to the current Senate numbers.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd needs an extra seven votes in the Senate to pass the carbon-trade legislation. If the legislation is again defeated it would give Rudd a trigger for a snap election on climate change.
The scheme is designed to cover 1,000 of Australia's biggest polluters and would be the world's most comprehensive carbon-reduction scheme outside of Europe.
Passage of the legislation in the Senate this week would be a boost for U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
But a small cloud still hangs over the carbon-trade legislation, with deep division in opposition parties and some members are still threatening to vote against the plan.
Three junior opposition frontbench resigned their positions on Wednesday, allowing them the freedom to vote against the carbon trade bills.
"I don't know who is going to vote which way in the Senate," said Liberal party MP Kevin Andrews.
(Reporting by James Grubel; Editing by Michael Perry and Mark Bendeich)

((james.grubel@reuters.com; +612 6273 2730; Reuters Messaging: james.grubel.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: AUSTRALIA CARBON/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)

COPYRIGHT

Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.