A majority of economists surveyed by the Economic Society of Australia at the Australian National University (ANU) have supported the implementation of the Federal Government’s planned carbon tax as a sound economic policy.

 

Of 145 economics surveyed by the society, 60 per cent responded that they believed the tax to be a positive economic move.

 

However, 85 per cent of participants believed the Federal Oppositions’ planned direct action policy to be economically unviable and potentially damaging.

 

“We asked two questions. Roughly how much are you in favour or against this carbon tax package announced by the government? And what is your reaction to the direct action plan of the Coalition?,”  said the Economic Society of Australia’s president, Professor Bruce Chapman.

 

“The results were fairly clear cut. Something like 60% were in favour of the government's approach and 25% were against and 15% had no opinion.”