Former Australian Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull launched attack against Tony Abbott's approach to climate change on Monday, saying the new Liberal policy is a farce and some claims amount to "bullshit."

A recent Newspoll, published in The Australian newspaper on Monday, showed that Abbott had greater appeal than his predecessor Turnbull. In the better Prime Minister stakes, Abbott debuted at 23 percent, up from the last 14 percent rating for Turnbull. In comparison Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had his percentage cut five points to 60 percent.

Turnbull said in a recent blog he planned to speak brusquely about the coalition's climate change policy, which helped to bring his leadership undone last week.

As Abbott had never been afraid of speaking his mind, Turnbull said, "I am sure he won't complain if I tell a few home truths about the farce that the coalition's policy, or lack of policy, on climate change has descended into."

Abbott has ditched coalition support for an emissions trading scheme (ETS), labeling it a big tax.

He has pledged to meet the targets to cut emissions through other means, suggesting he'll do it cheaper than the Labor ETS.

Turnbull disputed that commitment. Whether it's clean coal technology, planting trees or using renewable energy, it will all cost money, he noted.

"So any suggestion that you can dramatically cut emissions without any cost is to use a favorite term of Mr. Abbott, 'bullshit'. Moreover he knows it," Turnbull said.

Turnbull has vowed to cross the floor to support the Rudd government's ETS legislation when it is reintroduced to parliament early next year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2009)