KEVIN Rudd has ruled out using a Coalition block on climate change legislation as the trigger for an early federal election.
The Prime Minister said today he intended that the government serve a full three-year term, and would not attempt to break a potential deadlock on the climate bill in the Senate with a double dissolution election.
The Weekend Australian reported that the Coalition would face an electoral wipe out at next year's federal election if the rebel Coalition group led by Tony Abbott and Nick Minchin blocked the legislation.
An analysis of Newspoll results shows the Coalition could lose at least 20 metropolitan seats, including the seats of besieged party leader Malcolm Turnbull, Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey and climate change critics Kevin Andrews and Andrew Robb.
Mr Rudd is not likely to have the means, constitutionally, to call an early election until the first half of next year at this point because it would depend on the Senate blocking climate change legislation twice.
A full three years for the Rudd government comes up in November next year.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Mr Rudd said his "strong and continuing resolve" was to serve a full three years.
"I have deeply conservative views about these questions," he said. "These views have not changed. I have been elected to serve a full term and that is my intention."
The Prime Minister reminded the Coalition that Mr Turnbull, and Mr Hockey, Mr Turnbull's possible successor as leader in a leadership ballot expected on Tuesday, had both committed to a deal on climate change legislation.
"My expectation is that the negotiated bipartisan deal on climate change in Australia passes the Australian Senate and passes the Australian parliament," Mr Rudd said.
"Remember the Government, and the Liberal Party under Mr Turnbull and Mr Hockey, worked constructively to reach this bipartisan deal on climate change to pass the carbon pollution reduction scheme."
The Prime Minister's comments are an attempt to place added pressure on Mr Hockey, who is expected to revise his position and accept a delay in considering climate change legislation until at least February as part of any deal to win support for the Liberal leadership.
Labor doubts the Coalition position would change after February.
Asked about turmoil in the Liberal leadership after the rebellion against Mr Turnbull and whether he would look forward to facing Mr Hockey, Mr Rudd said he did not comment on internal deliberations of the Liberal Party.