alcolm Turnbull has embarked on a classic ''crash through or crash'' approach on climate change. Following in the footsteps of eminent political leaders such as Labor's Gough Whitlam, he is putting his leadership on the line.

Never a shrinking violet, Mr Turnbull has opted for this high-risk strategy in an attempt to corral dissenters. Given the ongoing destabilisation from within, he had nothing to lose.

On Thursday he said he would not lead a party that was not as committed to action on climate change as he was. He wants to avoid a double-dissolution election fought on the issue which has attracted majority support in the community. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would have the trigger to go to the polls early if the Senate again rejects his emissions trading scheme. That bill is due to return to Parliament for a vote shortly before Mr Rudd goes to Copenhagen for the United Nations climate change summit.

Rather than block the bill outright again, Mr Turnbull wants to propose amendments and leave open the option of negotiating with the Government. He is demanding the Coalition support his plan when Liberal and National MPs meet in two weeks. However, he said yesterday he would not resign if he did not get full party room support. That doesn't sound very formidable. Rather than blow hot and cold with a lacklustre attempt at bullying, he might be better off to engage in persuasion.

In any case, brinkmanship was never going to impress an outspoken rebel like West Australian Liberal Wilson Tuckey who has never been known to reject a media request to publicly bag the leadership if he happens to disagree with a policy.

Mr Tuckey might be an eccentric but at least he owns his criticism. The same cannot be said for those unnamed Liberal MPs who are white-anting Mr Turnbull. Yesterday Mr Turnbull rebutted his anonymous critics as ''smart arses''. He could choose similarly sharp language to put Mr Tuckey in his place and demonstrate he is impervious to such self-promotion.