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Treasurer Chris Bowen has confirmed the federal government would stick to its timetable for the return to a balanced budget despite bringing forward changes to the carbon price worth billions of dollars.
Mr Bowen said on Sunday the government had agreed to scrap the fixed carbon price and move to a floating price on carbon on July 1 next year - one year earlier than scheduled.
"I think families will see a big benefit in what we are bringing forward," Mr Bowen said.
Mr Bowen would not provide an exact figure on the cost of the decision but confirmed it would be in the order of several billion dollars.
He said other savings would have to be found in order for Labor to deliver a balanced budget in 2015/16.
Mr Bowen told Channel Ten there would be no change in the household assistance package designed to help consumers with any price changes brought about by the scheme.
The decision marks another step away from policies instituted by former prime minister Julia Gillard since Kevin Rudd returned to the leadership less than one month ago.
Mr Rudd flagged his concern with the fixed price phase as soon as he was returned to the prime ministership late last month. He has also suggested there will be changes in immigration policy.
The change would see the current fixed $24.15 per tonne carbon price dumped in favour of a floating price of between $6 and $10 per tonne.
The government will be hoping the change will result in a drop in electricity prices which would allow it to say it was helping people with the costs of living.
In a statement the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott repeated his promise to repeal the carbon price if he is elected to government later this year.
"Mr Rudd can change the name but whether it is fixed or floating it is still a carbon tax," Mr Abbott said.
Bringing forward an ETS by 12mths is just a Kevin Rudd con. It's still a toxic carbon tax which you still pay. It hurts families + jobs.
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) July 13, 2013
Greens leader Christine Milne accused Mr Rudd of being a "fake on climate" after the federal government confirmed it would dump the controversial fixed price on carbon.
Senator Milne said the decision was "cowardly" and failed to realise that "we are living in a climate emergency".
"It's all about politics not policy," Senator Milne told ABC television on Sunday morning.
"Kevin Rudd is a fake on climate."
The issue of the carbon price dogged the prime ministership of Julia Gillard who was subjected to a relentless opposition campaign accusing her of breaking her 2010 election campaign promise not to introduce a carbon tax.
The carbon price was negotiated by Ms Gillard with the Greens and independents after the election as part of Labor's deal to form minority government.
VicWind state coordinator Andrew Bray said this step helped return Australia's focus to the importance of reducing emissions, it would be a welcome change.
"This move put's the ball back into the Coalition's court. Tony Abbott and Greg Hunt have some serious questions to answer about whether the Coalition's Direct Action Policy can effectively reduce emissions at a reasonable cost," Mr Bray said.
"Both parties should use this policy reset as an opportunity to strengthen complimentary policies on renewable energy.
"Australia needs all sides of politics to commit to retain a fixed renewable energy target that strengthens in ambition into the future."
Former NSW / QLD farmer and Nuffield scholar Tim Napier said for farmers, it ultimately came down to what was in it for them.
"(The government) needs to arrive at a model that makes it commercially worthwhile for farmers to go down this track," Mr Napier said.
"Until that happens, it's really a meaningless debate.
"If farmers can establish a new income stream from doing stuff in that space, fantastic, but they're not going to do it out of the goodness of their heart."