Xstrata is mounting pressure on the Australian federal government to start a debate on the carbon tax. The chief executive of Xstrata Coal Peter Freyberg said that he wanted to see the government start a proper consultation process on the issue.
The uncertainty created by the delay in a decision to be taken on setting a price for carbon dioxide emissions is likely to affect the mining industry in terms of investment decisions. This is why the mining giant and its fellow company Coal and Allied have called for talks with the government.
Peter Freyberg said that there were certain principles they needed to think around in terms of whether carbon should be priced and how it is priced. Also in terms of how a scheme is to be introduced and other related details.
BHP Billiton Chief Executive Marius Kloppers has recently mentioned that a price on carbon should be a part of any response to climate change. Now that the industry is interested it is over to the government to make an appropriate response.