Fresh plans for a carbon tax point to a secret deal between Labor and the Greens, says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
On the eve of the election, Prime Minister Julia Gillard ruled out adopting a carbon price.
But Climate Change Minister Greg Combet on Wednesday announced the development of a carbon price would be his focus during this term of government.
Mr Abbott criticised the backflip, saying it meant the current government was based on a lie.
“The carbon tax is the first product of the secret deal between the Labor Party and the Greens, which has enabled the current government to be formed,” he told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.
“What that means is that this government is essentially based on a lie.
“There has been a fundamental breach of faith with the Australian people, and this fundamental breach of faith will haunt this government from now until its ultimate demise.”