Australia's adoption of a carbon tax has been applauded by European nations, with the move generating international interest comparable to that of apologising to the stolen generation, says the ambassador to the European Union.
Brendan Nelson said he has received "universally positive" feedback about the new legislation from his Brussels-based peers.
"The European Union has been universally positive about the decision made in Australia to introduce a price to carbon," he told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"Over the last three years a series of things have drawn Europe's attention to Australia. The ratification of the Kyoto Protocol got their attention late in 2007, then the parliamentary apology to the forcibly removed generations (of) indigenous Australians is something that they still speak to me about very positively."
The former federal Liberal leader, who began his Belgium diplomatic posting in February last year, said Australia's relationship with China also continues to impress European nations.
"But the other (impressive) thing is the determination of the Australian government to price carbon," Dr Nelson said.
"Europe has an emissions trading scheme, it has its obvious and recognised faults and weaknesses, which have been progressively tightened up here, but when a country like Australia chose to move to price carbon it was very much welcomed by the Europeans, including David Cameron."
Succeeded as Liberal leader in 2008 by Malcolm Turnbull and the incumbent Tony Abbott, the prolonged carbon debate is commonly seen as one of the factors that saw Dr Nelson lose the top job.
Mr Abbott has sworn to repeal the new legislation should his party reclaim government.
Labor's pollution price regime will begin in mid-2012 with a $23-a-tonne carbon price.
It will then transform to an emissions trading scheme with a floating price in mid-2015.
