Australian businesses claim they have not reduced their carbon intensity as a result of the carbon tax.
In a survey of 400 businesses, respondents said the carbon tax has reduced company profits, but little else.
One year after the introduction of the carbon tax, the survey was undertaken by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group).
With Australian businesses about to begin two more years with a fixed price carbon tax, the survey adds to the mounting case for an immediate switch to an emissions trading scheme, according to Ai Group chief executive, Innes Willox.
"The Ai Group report shows that the ability of businesses to rapidly reduce their energy intensity or to mitigate their energy costs is limited,” he said adding that 70 per cent of respondents had not reduced their carbon intensity.
Respondents said they have not been able to pass on any cost increases related to the carbon tax. Across the sample, the average cost that could be recouped was just six per cent.
"Regardless of the outcome of the federal election, abolishing the fixed carbon tax and replacing it with an internationally linked emissions trading scheme needs to be at the top of the post-election agenda,” Willox said.
"This would immediately cut carbon costs by two thirds and boost business competitiveness.
"Many countries and regions now have their carbon prices set by the market – and they are all significantly lower than Australia's fixed price carbon tax. At more than three times Europe's price and more than four times Chinese prices, Australia's current carbon tax is unsustainable.”
Meanwhile, research conducted by JWS Research for the Climate Institute, found that just 37 per cent of voters support the Coalition’s plan to abolish the carbon tax.
JWS pollster John Scales said the Opposition Leader had failed to convince people that carbon pricing should be scrapped because two-thirds of Australians believed climate change is real.
The research polled 1009 people.
