Australian acting PM urges opposition to honor CPRS agreement

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard has urged the Liberals to honor their agreement on the government's carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS) on Monday, whoever is in charge of the embattled Australian opposition party.

"This is an agreement with the Liberal Party," Gillard told reporters on Friday.

Monday may also see the showdown for the Liberal leadership, when Tony Abbott, who resigned his frontbench position on Thursday, may challenge Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull.

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey may also be in the running.

Friday's agreed deadline for the Senate to pass the negotiated legislation, which provides additional support for the coal and electricity sectors, passed by, with only 10 percent of amendments debated.

"It is deeply, deeply disappointing that the Liberal Party has not today honored that agreement and brought the debate in the Senate to a conclusion," Gillard said.

She said the government remained "absolutely committed" to securing the passage of the CPRS and would be turning up on Monday to act in the nation's interest and expects the Liberal Party to do the same.

Source: Xinhua