After a peaceful protest action on Sunday in two major cities, supporters of Australia's carbon tax seemed to be facing stiff opposition from those opposing the law especially from the industry sectors.

The Australian government's plans to implement a carbon tax is facing strict opposition from the states with some voters labeling Prime Minister Julia Gillard's move a betrayal of her pre-election promise not to implement such a law.

A Herald Sun poll shows that 58 percent of voters are opposed to the carbon tax and more than two thirds of voters want Gillard to call an election before implementing the carbon tax. Only 28 percent of those polled are in favor of the tax. Of the 500 people polled only 24 percent feel that the Prime Minister has a clear mandate in introducing the carbon tax.

Opposition to the carbon tax has been spearheaded by voters showing their discontent over the Prime Minister's perceived failure to live up to her campaign promises. Ms. Gillard ran last year with a promise not to have a carbon tax on her government.

Greg Hunt, Shadow Minister for climate action, told heraldsun.com that people feel that the Prime Minister has betrayed her election promise. He also called for an election to accept democratic responsibility. This sentiment seems to be echoed by 64 percent of polled voters who said they wanted a fresh election.

Other more upsetting results for the Gillard government reveal that 75 percent feel that the tax wouldn't help solve the climate change problem or that it would have no impact at all. This only emphasizes the fact that government hasn't convinced majority of the voters about the environmental benefits of such a measure.

The government is set to announce the carbon tax framework in a few weeks. There have been various proposals that the carbon price will be set between $20 to $30 per ton. The carbon tax is meant to be a transition method before the government will switch to an emissions trading scheme.

Opponents of the scheme have not only played up the Prime Minister's pre-election promises of not having a carbon tax but also voters fears that the tax would make cost of living rise dramatically. Government has replied with assurances that any price rises will be compensated for by tax cuts and pension increases.

Price for pollution

Heavily reliant on coal-fired power that keeps the thriving mining industry, Australia is one of the world's worst per capita polluters and the government wants the tax levied on these industries that known to be causing pollution by July 1, 2012.

The government's plan would give way to an emissions trading scheme within three to five years.

Group's opposing the carbon tax said it would have more economic implications as higher electricity rates would be shared by both industries and residential consumers.