The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it has received only 630 complaints and enquiries about the carbon tax during its first 10 days, with most concerning electricity and gas bills.
These are followed by complaints about rubbish tip fees, building and construction costs and refrigerant gases.
It has launched 20 investigations as a result but into areas across the consumer spectrum.
The consumer watchdog - which has the power to heavily fine individuals and businesses that use the carbon tax to price gouge - said all complaints were important but the number received so far ”has generally been low”.
The 630 complaints concerning the carbon price constitute just 7.5 per cent of the 8350 general complaints from consumers the ACCC has received since July 1.
”Although complaint numbers are low, we know these are important issues for people and we are working with businesses to ensure consumers are not duped into accepting a price increase,” said the ACCC chairman, Rod Sims.
He reiterated that all price increases must be truthful and have a reasonable basis. ”A business that makes a good-faith, reasonable approach to calculating the carbon price for their business, has nothing to fear from the ACCC.”
Of the 630 carbon tax-related complaints, 250 were concerns or questions about increases in electricity and gas bills. The overall cost of living increase caused by the carbon price is estimated by Treasury to be less than 1 per cent but electricity price increases attributable to it are about 10 per cent. Low- and middle-income households will receive compensation.
The landfill complaints generally concern local councils increasing tip fees. Many councils are liable for the carbon tax because the gases that landfills release put the councils among the country’s top 300 emitters.
The complaints about building and construction relate primarily to cost of materials, especially steel, glass and concrete. Some complaints have concerned price rises on materials that were in stock before the carbon price began and on products for which the manufacturers receive compensation. Refrigerant gases have risen up to 500 per cent, because of the carbon price and other factors.
The ACCC said it ”will watch closely for price increase representations that attribute the entire increase to the carbon price”.
The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, continued his campaign yesterday, attributing price rises to the carbon tax.
Visiting a fish market in Melbourne, Mr Abbott said ”the carbon tax is going to hit the seafood industry at every level” from the diesel the trawlers use through to refrigeration expenses.
”It’s going to radically increase costs of refrigeration,” he said.
The Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet, said Mr Abbott was being deceitful. He said the diesel used by fishing boats was exempt and the impact of the tax on meat and seafood was 10¢ a week.
