The Australian Greens say they are angry the federal government flood recovery plan is turning its back on the disaster's cause - climate change.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday announced she wants to impose a one-off flood levy of 0.5 per cent on middle income earners to help pay for the cost of cleaning up Queensland and Victoria.
But spending cuts will be necessary, and a number of carbon abatement programs are to be abolished, deferred or capped.
Greens deputy leader Christine Milne says helping rebuild flood-devastated communities is a top priority for her party.
"But it does a disservice to all those tragically affected by these floods ... to keep insisting that these are one-off events and ignore the role of climate change," she said in a statement.
"While we are open to the idea of a levy, the Greens see establishing a long-term, well-resourced disaster relief fund as a high priority in the face of climate change."
Senator Milne added deferring the top end corporate tax cuts planned for July 1, 2013 was a better way to save money.
It would net Labor about $1.7 billion in the forward estimates, she said.
