Like what it has done to the Australian Parliament, the carbon tax has also divided Aussies as groups both opposed and favoured the $23 per tonne carbon price which started to be collected Sunday, July 1.

However, while it divided the nation, latest survey showed that those against the measure numbered more than those who support it. However, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) actually added 2 points to its primary vote, while the Coalition - which has vowed to repeal the law if it wins in the 2013 election - kept steady its primary vote.

On Sunday, about 1,000 anti-carbon tax protestors aired their opposition to the carbon tax by gathering at Belmore Park in central Sydney. The Coalition took advantage of the occasion to reiterate its promise to abolish the tax immediately once it wins the election.

Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop, who addressed the rally which had protestors chanting "axe the tax," said the 2013 election would actually be a referendum on the carbon tax. He insisted the measures could be abolished despite what the government has been saying.

On the same day, Prime Minister Julia Gillard insisted that Coalition leader Tony Abbott cannot repeal the carbon tax as he promised. She cited Australia's experience with the general sales tax (GST) which she opposed when then Prime Minister John Howard introduced the measure in 2000.

"I was opposed to the GST but once it was in operation, it was clear to all that there was no going back," The Herald Sun quoted Ms Gillard.

"Here we are, after all these years of the GST, a big divisive debate, and it's not something top of mind for anyone in Australia's public debate today," she pointed out.

Ms Gillard cited also that most of the 300 entities that will initially pay the carbon tax have prepared for the measure and made investments in greenhouse gas emission reduction.

"Against all of the backdrop, Mr Abbott will find himself in a position where he cannot go to the next election pretending anything else than carbon pricing is going to stay," she added.

Backing up Ms Gillard's position is the group Businesses for Clean Energy consortium which is made up of banks, energy companies and manufacturing firms. The group said the carbon tax, even if it would cause prices to increase, would help fast track the shift to a low-carbon economy as it aims to cut carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2020.

"It's true there is uncertainty and that does make the job more difficult and makes the next couple of years a challenging time to do business.... We hope they will reconsider this issue. We think it's important to the competitiveness and business opportunities available for the Australian economy and Australian companies," AAP quoted Nathan Fabian, the consortium's spokesman.

Deputy Prime Minister Way Swan stressed that the carbon tax is the most effective and efficient way to bring innovation as Australia seeks better and less-polluting ways to produce power, goods and services. He said it would cut the country's yearly GHG emissions by at least 159 million tonnes yearly by 2020, which is like taking 45 million cars off the road.

Returning to the GST experience, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the Gillard government is willing to tweak the carbon tax if justified. Ms Gillard cited that the Howard government also made some changes to the GST compliance after it was implemented.

However, the Opposition insisted the carbon tax must go. Liberal MP Craig Kelly charged the government with destroying Australian prosperity by removing Australia's competitive advantage.

"The tax is a poisonous, toxic tax. Once it got into our system it will go up and up.... Every coalition member will sign a blood oath to get rid of this tax," Brisbane Times quoted Mr Kelly.

The latest Fairfax/Nielsen survey showed that the Opposition gained headway against the ALP, apparently over the carbon tax. The survey said the Coalition widened its two-party lead to 58 per cent to 42 per cent. Labor's primary vote was at 28 per cent as against 48 per cent for the coalition.

With indicators of a Coalition win, Mr Abbott said as part of fulfilling his electoral vow, legislation for the repeal of the carbon tax will be introduced on day one of the new parliament.

He said that if the carbon tax would remain until 2020, Australian's domestic emissions would still be 8 per cent higher even with a $37 a tonne carbon price.

A photo competition on the carbon tax protest also divided Australians as comments showed how the measure has created a gap in the country. One blogger said the picture could have been taken at a protest against same-sex marriage - another issue that divides Australians - while another thought it was another crap against boat people. One blogger suggested changing the photo caption.

"Perhaps you'd like to change that to, 'People from the same generation as the people who protested against pollution are now protesting against the carbon tax. Yet these particular people never gave a shit about pollution, so their anti-environment position has been consistent all along. Meanwhile, the people who actually protested against pollution are probably just as disgusted with them as they were in the 60s," blogger CannedMango wrote on the Web site reddit.com

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