Opposition backs Australian carbon reduction bill  — Australia's
opposition leader Tuesday pledged his party's support for
contentious legislation proposed by the government aimed at
curbing the country's greenhouse gas emissions.  Australia is
one of the world's worst carbon dioxide polluters per capita
because of its heavy reliance on its abundant coal reserves. As
the driest continent after Antarctica, it is also considered one
of the most vulnerable countries to climate change.  Malcolm
Turnbull said his Liberal Party senators and senior lawmakers
agreed during a seven-hour meeting to support the Labor Party
government's bill in a Senate vote this week.  While some
Liberal senators have said they will refuse, Turnbull said Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd's government was assured seven Liberal votes
needed to pass the legislation in the 76-seat Senate would be
received.  "I am confident ... the legislation will be passed,"
Turnbull told reporters.  The Senate rejected similar
legislation in a vote in August with