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Government

Minchin resigns over carbon plan

Shadow Communications Minister Nick Minchin has resigned from the shadow ministry to protest the opposition's stance on the carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS).
Written by Suzanne Tindal, Contributor

Shadow Communications Minister Nick Minchin has resigned from the shadow ministry to protest the opposition's stance on the carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS).

Nick Minchin

Former Shadow
Communications
Minister Nick Minchin

(Credit: AUSPIC)

He said that he and Shadow Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Tony Abbott had gone to see Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull in his office to try and convince him to change his mind about supporting the passage of the government's legislation on the carbon scheme.

Minchin proposed that the legislation be referred to a Senate Committee for inquiry and that it be discussed further after the Copenhagen climate change conference in December.

"Mr Turnbull declined this proposition, so I advised that I would have no alternative but to resign from the shadow cabinet as I was not able to support the CPRS legislation," Minchin said in a statement.

The resignation takes effect when parliament finishes for the year next week. Turnbull said he would assess the necessary reshuffle at that time.

Minchin said he would remain as senate leader until the resumption of Senate sittings in February when, as a backbencher, he would step down.

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