TV ads promoting the carbon tax go to air Sunday night, but a newspaper report says the total taxpayer-funded government campaign will cost twice as much as the originally stated cost.
While the ads will cost $12 million, Fairfax newspapers say the total bill for the federal government campaign to explain its climate-change policy will cost more than $25 million dollars and also include websites, leaflets and other publicity.
Fairfax also says the Australian Trade and Industry Alliance will be launching a $10 million dollar anti-carbon tax ad campaign this week, backed by the coal industry and the Minerals Council.
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Meanwhile, Julia Gillard says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's direct action climate plan is a magic pudding which will smash the budget.
But Mr Abbott has rejected the claim saying the Prime Minister's carbon tax will cause a permanent depression, comparing its impact to that of this year's Queensland floods.
Mr Abbott has told delegates of the Queensland Liberal National Party state conference the national economy isn't moving because the floods hit the Queensland coal industry.
And he says a tax hitting coal mines permanently would mean a permanent depression in Queensland and the nation.
Treasurer Wayne Swan has condemned the opposition leader's comments as despicable .. pointing out Mr Abbott made no mention of the floods in his budget reply speech and now uses them to discredit the government's policy.
Ms Gillard, speaking to Hazelwood power station workers in Victoria's Latrobe Valley, says Mr Abbott's carbon reduction plan would cost household $720 dollars a year and he should explain why people should pay all of that.
