Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has announced that the Government’s planned carbon tax will be introduced before parliament in September and could be legislated before the end of the year.

 

"I'll be bringing the legislation into the House of Reps in September," Mr Combet told Sky News.

 

The tax will see Australia’s heaviest 500 polluters pay $23 per tonne of carbon emission with a view to implementing a full emissions trading scheme by 2015.

 

The announcement by Mr Combet comes after Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott addressed a protest in front of Parliament House in which he called for an election to be held over the carbon tax.

 

The Federal Government plans to have the law take effect on July 1, 2012.