Opposition's pledge to junk carbon tax fails to enthuse Australian businesses

Fewer than a quarter of the biggest heavy greenhouse gas-emitting companies in Australia who would directly pay the carbon tax, support opposition leader Tony Abbott's ''pledge in blood'' to repeal the scheme, according to a survey by the newspaper The Herald.

However, the survey of major emitters showed concerns continued about the design of the scheme, with some favouring a swifter shift to a market-based emissions trading scheme, the scrapping of the planned floor price and higher compensation.

The newspaper polled 40 of the biggest emitters on the government's list of 294 companies that would pay the carbon tax whether it was in their interests to repeal or change the scheme.

Nine said they backed a repeal, which included the power companies Delta Electricity, Intergen and Stanwell, as also the Australian Coal Association and Manufacturing Australia, which spoke for members.

Eight firms, including leading power companies AGL and Origin, BHP Billiton and Shell and Caltex, said they were in favour of some form of carbon pricing.

Five firms, including Alcoa, Qantas and TRUenergy, said they wanted  the existing scheme to be changed while four companies, including retail giant Wesfarmers, said they were only focused on complying with the existing law currently.