Australia government pushes carbon tax

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has kicked off a new campaign to promote a proposed carbon tax, which is facing heavy criticism from the country’s industrial leaders, as well as the opposition Liberal party.

The Labour Party has begun a big push to sell its carbon tax, which it says is necessary to fight climate change.

Gillard is not being helped by the markets, where on Monday share prices in coal mining companies, steel firms and airlines dropped, over fears a carbon tax would raise their operating costs.

Australia's parliament twice rejected attempts to price carbon in 2009, but the government says it is confident it has the votes to pass the legislation later this year.

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