“I have this afternoon offered my resignation as Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate to the Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull.
“The sole basis for my decision is that I cannot support the suite of Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bills in their current form or with the proposed amendments prior to the Copenhagen talks and, as such, I could not continue in a leadership position. Mr Turnbull has accepted this.
“I have tried through private and collective discussion, to achieve deferral of the CPRS decision till after Copenhagen, to no avail.
“To assist the party, my colleagues and the Senate, I have offered to stay on in my role until the Senate rises this year, given this remains a busy and active period.
“With regard to my party-appointed role, that being the Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate, I offered the Liberal Senate Party Room meeting tonight the option of me standing aside from this position.
“The party room resolved that I remain in my position for the foreseeable future,” Senator Parry said.
Senator Stephen Parry Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate Liberal, Tasmania
