By Angela Dorizas

The Rudd Government’s emissions trading scheme has been voted down in the Senate.

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) bill was defeated by 41 to 33 votes.

Liberal Senators Sue Boyce and Judith Troeth crossed the floor to vote with the Government.

Independent Senators Nick Xenophon, and Family First’s Steve Fielding joined the Greens and Opposition in blocking the legislation.

In her final reading of the bill, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said extreme views within the Coalition were to blame for the defeat of the ETS.

"These are people sprinting back to the past," she said.

"They are sham arguments from people driven, and now led, by people who do not believe climate change is real."

In voting down the bill, the Senate has provided the Labor Government with a trigger for a double dissolution.

Opposition frontbencher Christopher Pyne last night predicted that an election could be held as early as March 6