Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the global economy is entering "perilous times" and the carbon tax will add to the pressure on the Australian economy.
Mr Abbott visited a Gold Coast City Council landfill site on Monday to talk up the impact of the carbon tax, which comes into effect from July 1.
Treasurer Wayne Swan says he expects there to be a "very long and painful adjustment" in Europe, and US jobless figures are raising concerns about the economic recovery there.
Mr Abbott told reporters the Gillard government's "spending spree" over recent years had put the economy at risk, and the carbon tax would add to this.
"These are very perilous economic times," he said. "The international economic storm clouds have rarely been darker and yet what does this government do?
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"It chooses to damage Australia's competitiveness, to damage Australia's productivity, with the world's biggest carbon tax." Mr Abbott said the Gold Coast council had estimated a bill of $4.2 million a year to meet its carbon tax liabilities.
But he added that it was "completely confused exactly what the liability of councils at the moment is".
"Councils are very reluctant to hit ratepayers with increases and yet they fear they might have to because of vast and very difficult to quantify carbon tax liabilities stretching out over the next 40 years."
The government expects all entities that are liable for the carbon tax to be identified by June 30. So far 250 have been confirmed but the final list is expected to be just under 500 companies, councils and other bodies.
