Peter Dutton rejects push by moderate Liberals to change position on climate legislation

Liberal moderates Simon Birmingham, James Stevens, Andrew Bragg and Bridget Archer are believed to have spoken about changing position on the climate bill, which was rejected by Peter Dutton. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Peter Dutton has rebuffed moderates wanting a change to the opposition’s plan to vote against Labor’s climate change legislation at a meeting of shadow cabinet on Monday night.

Guardian Australia understands that the former finance minister and now shadow foreign affairs minister, Simon Birmingham, advocated an alternative approach to voting against the government’s legislation, suggesting the opposition should either vote for the bill or not oppose it.