How will Peter Lindsay vote on the CPRS?

Today is a big day for the Libs in Canberra as they attempt to reach a position on the Government’s proposed CRPS-ETS without blowing themselves apart. But how will the Prince of Herbert vote?

Trawling Hansard and the web for any indication of Peter Lindsay’s position is a near fruitless exercise.

What I did learn is that:

• He was one of just 12 opposition members (along with far-right luminaries such as Nick Minchin and Eric Abetz) who attended a briefing by prominent climate change sceptic Professor Bob Carter organised by Sen. Steve Fielding in August.
• After is 35-day overseas junket earlier this year, he returned supporting the proposition that “no one country should get too far ahead of any other country in relation to its approach to climate change”, failing of course to mention that 20 other countries already have ETS or equivalent scheme or the importance and value of leadership.
• The Prince doesn’t have much on his own official site about the most important issue facing the planet, however I did find that in 2008 he made a release titled "Emissions trading scheme a threat to Queensland" – perhaps indicating that he doesn’t believe Qld to be part of the planet.
• However, I should acknowledge his meaningfull efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef when, in 2005, he successfully led the calls for the naming a patch of the GBR the “Cowboys Reef” after those important contributors to world peace and a sustainable future for the planet, the NQ Cowboys

I’ve not been able to find anything that indicates whether he actually believes in Global Warming or not.

I did however find a piece in The Oz by Samantha Maiden reporting on a Coalition partyroom meeting in October of this year where The Prince declared his current leader Malcolm Turnbull a “man of steel”. She went on to point out that Lindsay was also “fond of declaring his love for the previous leader”, Brendon Nelson.

And that is the real clue to how The Prince will vote today. Now that he’s decided to try and save the Libs from almost certain defeat in Herbert at the next election, he will do anything to keep the big fridge (and extra postal allowance) that goes with being a shadow Parliamentary Secretary.

As such, my bet is that, as the sycophant he is, he will get in behind whoever looks like winning the vote and being the Liberal leader tomorrow.

Come on Peter – tell us what you really believe