The Federal Government has announced it will unveil its carbon pricing scheme on Sunday, despite being unfinished.
There is one more meeting for the multi-party climate change committee scheduled before the government debuts the tax, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
According to climate change minister Greg Combet, there are “some additional matters” that still need to be discussed over the next few days.
"[But] we’ve certainly got enough confidence to go ahead with the announcement of all the details on Sunday," he told ABC Radio.
He explained that proposed carbon pricing scheme is capable of being legislated as it will have the support of the Greens in the Senate and independents in the lower house.
Combet also took the opportunity to say the scheme will not have the impact that the mining industry and the coalition are claiming.
"I’m sure that people will find … that the impact on the cost of living will be quite modest," he said.
The Government previously stated that the carbon tax will not include domestic fuel; however, it has refused to say whether it will broaden the scheme to include fuel used by businesses.
The proposed carbon pricing scheme has come under fire from Anglo American global CEO Cynthia Carroll, who warned that governments seeking excessive taxes may damage mining investment.
“Governments tempted to move in this direction convince themselves that necessary mining investments in their countries will continue unabated, despite the imposition of such arbitrary changes,” she said.
“They are wrong. International businesses have choices to make between investment opportunities in different jurisdictions.”
Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott has also slammed the tax, labelling it dangerous and stating that “this carbon tax is based on lies”.
Speaking at the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies Convention, he said it put the industry under pressure.
“It won’t make a difference to the environment, but will hurt Australian workers and consumers.”
Abbott stated that “Chinese emissions are forecast to rise by 500% and India’s by 350% in the next decade, we in Australia could stop emitting altogether but China’s increase in emissions would more than make up for complete a stoppage in this country.”