Govt refuses to confirm carbon price

The federal government is refusing to confirm reports it has settled on a $23-a-tonne starting point for its carbon pricing scheme.

'This will be announced on Sunday when all of the details will be released,' cabinet minister Nicola Roxon told ABC Radio on Thursday.

'That's when that question will be answered.'

Mr Roxon also refused to say whether public hospitals will be compensated for the tens of thousands of dollars it will cost them in higher electricity charges.

Fairfax has reported the $23 price is a compromise between Labor, which was seeking $20, and the Australians Greens, who wanted a much higher price.

Government modelling based on a $20 price showed that a carbon tax would cost the average family about $7.80 a week, or $406, a year, before compensation.

Seventy per cent of households are expected to be compensated by the government.

The government also has halved the number of companies hit by the carbon tax from 1000 to about 500.

Companies that will be excluded include fuel suppliers and distributors and also firms emitting synthetic greenhouse gases, such as the refrigeration and air conditioning industries.

Independent MP Tony Windsor was coy about the reported carbon price, saying he was bound by confidentiality as a member of the government's multi-party climate change committee.

'People will be pleasantly surprised on Sunday with the detail that's in the package,' he told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Windsor urged voters to look beyond the headlines and read the detail.

'I hope they see a genuine attempt ... to come to grips with this issue early rather than leave it to later generations,' he said.

It was 'gutsy' for the government to pursue action in a hung parliament.

'The easiest thing would have been to leave this to another parliament,' he said.

Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt said his party had been realistic about sealing a carbon package deal.

'We've always known there's going to be give and take and that we won't get everything that we want,' he told reporters.

'It's not the package we would have written by ourselves, but it's far better than what the government would have come up with if left to their own devices.'

Mr Bandt denied the package was similar to the Rudd government's dumped carbon pollution reduction scheme which the Greens voted down in 2009.

'I think you'll find it's quite different,' he said.

The MP rejected suggestions the Greens had sold out or that supporters would be disappointed by Sunday's announcement.

'I think Greens supporters will be very pleased with what we have been able to negotiate,' he said.

Government MPs will learn about the details of the carbon package in a phone hook-up on Sunday.

Backbenchers Ed Husic and Michelle Rowland defended suggestions they and their Labor colleagues were being kept in the dark.

'It's similar to the budget,' Mr Husic said.

Ms Rowland denied was 'a cop out', saying there had been a good debate in caucus.

'Information has always been forthcoming, I've never felt like I was in the dark.'

skynews.com.au 8 Jul 2011

The government is demonstrating that it is not accountable to anyone, especially the general population.

The government will now install Carbon Tax companies that 'manage' your money with respect to the tax. The government claims that these companies will plant trees to off set the polution caused by our vehicles, and not industry.

The government turned a blind eye to fraud and corruption in the Carbon offset companies that were around. There was no jail time for the CEO's of the firms, and the government sponsored monies that went to them by corrupt government officials.