The parliament is debating a Cap-and-Trade bill. For American readers unfamiliar with parliamentary structure, "front benchers" are a party's senior leadership - the people who would likely pick up ministry portfolios when the party comes to power. To have mass resignations from the front bench is, if not unprecedented, very unusual.The Liberal Party is in turmoil with the resignations of five frontbenchers from their portfolios this afternoon in protest against the emissions trading scheme.
Tony Abbott, Sophie Mirabella, Tony Smith and Senators Nick Minchin and Eric Abetz have all quit their portfolios because they cannot vote for the legislation.
Senate whip Stephen Parry has also relinquished his position.
The resignations are due to the party leadership trying to push a Cap-and-Trade bill that is wildly unpopular with the public. I don't expect that ClimateGate has had time to make an impact on this, so it's likely only to get worse.
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