Malcolm Turnbull's Faustian pact on climate change is heartbreaking | Mark Butler

Many Australians hoped the new PM would drag the Coalition back to the sensible centre on climate change - but he has swallowed Abbott's Direct Action hook, line and sinker

Over recent days and bit by bit, Australians have been coming to understand the price that Malcolm Turnbull was willing to pay to achieve his long-held personal ambition of becoming prime minister. Australians are beginning to understand the extent to which he was willing to discard so many long-held beliefs to satisfy that ambition.

Nowhere has that price been higher than in relation to climate change and environmental protection policy. This was, after all, the signature difference between the former prime minister and the new prime minister.