Australian PM Says No Intention to Call Snap Poll

In the biggest setback to Rudd's agenda since his 2007 election victory, the upper house Senate on Thursday rejected Rudd's emissions scheme after rival conservative, green and independent lawmakers joined forces to oppose it.

If the Senate blocks or rejects the legislation a second time, after an interval of three months, it would hand Rudd a trigger for an early poll dominated by climate change.

"I have not the slightest intention of going to an early poll. I don't think people like that. I think they want you to serve the term that you've been elected for," Rudd told local radio a day after the defeat.

Climate Minister Penny Wong said the government would bring the package back to parliament and try to push it through before a December U.N. meeting in Copenhagen, where world nations will try to hammer out a broad global climate pact.

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