Senator Humphries said yesterday the party would face almost certain electoral oblivion if it dumped Mr Turnbull and that the emissions trading scheme should be passed before more damage was done.

''A number of people have done a lot to deliberately damage [Mr Turnbull's] leadership in the last few weeks but what is needed now, a coalescence around both the leader and his policy,'' he said. ''Not only is Malcolm Turnbull the right man to deliver that policy for the Coalition, he is also the only man with a clear policy and he needs to be supported on that basis. For that reason we should support him and make sure that his leadership continues to clearly state where we stand on this important issue.''

Senator Humphries said private polling within the party showed the majority of Liberal voters supported an ETS and that if the party did not back and pass the amendments in the Senate this week, they would desert the Liberal Party in droves.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times