But another 2.7 million households earning as little as $65,000 will be out of pocket as 500 businesses paying the $23 a ton tax pass on the cost.
With the parliamentary votes already lined up, the prime minister was claiming success in achieving the controversial economic reform that helped bring down her predecessor.
“The carbon pollution reduction scheme ran into a brick wall. I’ve knocked that wall down. This is going through — full stop,” she said. “Now is the time to move from words to deeds.”
But the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, promised to fight the unpopular policy in the arena of public opinion, saying it “sets up the next election to be a referendum on the carbon tax.”
