From ABC Radio, PM

MARK COLVIN: The Coalition has used its numbers in the Senate, with the help of the Family First Senator, Steve Fielding, to delay debating the emissions trading scheme.

Negotiations between the Government and Opposition are continuing behind closed doors. 

The Government wanted the Senate to start debating the legislation today, but it didn't have the numbers.

So for now, there's no start date for the debate, with Federal Parliament due to rise for the year at the end of next week.

The Nationals Senate Leader Barnaby Joyce has told PM he'll do anything in his power to stop the scheme, and particularly to prevent a Senate vote before the Copenhagen summit. 

From Canberra, Alexandra Kirk reports.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Government and Opposition are still working flat out to strike a deal on emissions trading. They've made some headway and expect to keep negotiating all the way to the weekend.

But the Government's plan for the Senate to start debating the ETS today, in the absence of any deal has come unstuck.

JOE LUDWIG: What we do have now of course is the Opposition seeking to delay the start of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. That's clear what the Opposition are now seeking to do.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Senate's also blocked a Government bid to sit later tonight.

JOE LUDWIG: It brings, it's clear now that the Opposition have only one task in mind and that is to delay, to delay, to delay and to delay, to filibuster to use the time of the Senate so that they don't deal with it.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Opposition relied on Family First Senator Steve Fielding's support. He gave a new interpretation of the old adage that a week's a long time in politics.

STEVE FIELDING: The Government couldn't manage themselves out of a wet paper bag at the moment, in regards to ordering their business in this chamber. I'll say it again, 50 sitting days next week is an absolute insult to the Australian public. 

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Government is hopping mad. 

KEVIN RUDD: The CPRS debate will not be commencing today in the Senate. So Mr Speaker, we have three days left this week, one is now gone. We have four days left next week to debate what is arguably one of the most important pieces of legislation for the nation and for the economy for the year ahead,

I hope to be advised by the Leader of the Opposition that there has been some error on the part of those in another place. 

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Prime Minister says that appears to be at odds with the Coalition's fruitful, good faith negotiations.

There was a procession of ministers taking aim at those in the Coalition trenchantly opposed to any emissions trading scheme or any deal between the two major parties.

GREG COMBET: No modern political party can be held by, can be held captive by climate change sceptics and hope to retain credibility.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: First to his feet, the Minister assisting the Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet.

GREG COMBET: And the sceptics and the extremists need to be cast to the edge.

(Laughter)

(Hear hear)

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Also chipping in, the Treasurer.

WAYNE SWAN: Each and every year we delay the cost of responding to climate change gets larger and larger. 

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Coalition's negotiator Ian Macfarlane is optimistic about sealing a deal that will then get majority support in the party room. 

Six Liberals and four Nationals told their colleagues today the Coalition should vote no, particularly before the Copenhagen summit next month.

Some of the ten are vowing to cross the floor and vote against the legislation, no matter how much it's changed. Then there's the National's Barnaby Joyce approach.

BARNABY JOYCE: My goal and I'll say this categorically, is to try and stop the ETS, especially the vote prior to Copenhagen. It is completely mischievous and duplicate that we would force Australia to this massive new tax, prior to seeing what the rest of the world does, in only a matter of days afterwards.

So anything, any tactic that I can avail myself of to make sure that Australia gets some sort of respite and some sort of capacity to see what the rest of the world does at the very least, you know, has to be pursued.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: And are you Liberal colleagues with you on that one?

BARNABY JOYCE: Well I don't know whether they are or not, that's a question for them. My belief is that anything we can do to delay, defer, put-off, kill this ETS, this massive new tax is a tactic that you know, I'd have to consider.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: PM understands others in the Coalition want the debate and vote over and done with as soon as possible. That includes those wanting an agreement as well as those firmly against any ETS scheme. 

The Opposition expects the debate will start tomorrow.

MARK COLVIN: Alexandra Kirk