Prime Minister Julia Gillard says only around 500 of the biggest polluting companies will pay the full carbon price, and small business won't be hit with extra red tape.
The government on Sunday will unveil all the details of its emissions trading scheme, which will start with a fixed price for carbon from July 1, 2012.
Labor is confident of securing the support of independents and the Australian Greens to get its legislation through both houses of parliament.
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While Ms Gillard declined to confirm media speculation of a $23 per tonne starting price, she told Sky News a smaller number than the originally estimated 1000 businesses would pay the full price.
"This figure of 500 strongly reinforces the point that this is a price being paid by a limited number of big businesses - it is not being (directly) paid by Australian families," she said.
Ms Gillard said there would be no new forms or red tape for small business - as there is with the GST.
"They don't need to do anything except keep operating their small business," the prime minister said.
Costs would be passed on to households, which was why the government would provide tax cuts and welfare payment rises to nine out of 10 households, she said.
Asked about the starting price, Ms Gillard said: "I can confirm we have thought long and hard about the right price to ensure that we reduce carbon pollution, but also ... that we continue to enjoy an economy that is the envy of the world."
The opposition on Thursday failed to convince the independents and Greens to support a bid to have parliament sit on Monday so that MPs can debate the scheme.
The parliament will adjourn for a five-week winter break from Thursday.
Nationals frontbencher Luke Hartsuyker said the carbon pricing scheme needed immediate scrutiny.
"We urgently need to consider the impact of this carbon tax," he told parliament, adding it was the biggest economic change in Australia's history.
The Senate is debating an opposition move to put the carbon tax to a national vote.
The Greens also rejected rumours that their 10-member party room will be briefed on the ETS before Labor caucus members.
Ms Gillard said her Labor colleagues would be treated with the "utmost respect" and have all the information they need to talk about carbon pricing in their electorates.
An advertising campaign on the theme of Australia's "clean energy future" will be launched soon after Sunday's media conference.
The prime minister said she felt "energised and determined", as she headed into a week of public meetings and media events to talk about climate action.
