The multi-party climate change committee is edging closer to deciding on what the nation's future carbon price will be, the Australian Greens say.
The federal government wants to introduce carbon pricing laws to parliament by September, with the aim of having them passed by the end of the year and a fixed price to start from July 1, 2012.
The multi-party climate change committee - minus Prime Minister Julia Gillard - is meeting in Canberra this weekend to continue their deliberations in a more informal fashion.
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Greens Senator Christine Milne said while the group had begun to bring all its findings together, agreement on a carbon price was unlikely to be finalised in the next 36 hours.
"Whilst it is unlikely this weekend we'll come out with anything definite, what we will be able to do is put together a lot of the puzzle that we've been working on in the last several months," she said today.
"It's complex and now is the time to bring it all together."
Independent MP Rob Oakeshott agreed the controversial carbon pricing issue probably wouldn't be put to bed anytime soon.
"There is agreement there in the mix," he said as he headed into the meeting.
"I hope we can get it but we've got a long way to go before we can get there."
Fellow independent Tony Windsor said it would be impossible to get an agreement on a carbon price by tomorrow night.
"That won't happen, the Productivity Commission haven't given their report ... and there's other international work that's got to be delivered to the committee as well," he said.
Meanwhile, the Business Council of Australia has called for a low carbon price of $10 a tonne that would increase slowly to minimise the need for household and business compensation.
"[It would also recognise] the limited opportunities for domestic emissions reduction in the early years and in the absence of international linkage," the council said in its submission to the climate change department.
It warned that the Australian economy had experienced a significant downturn that was still impacting on many industries and the introduction of a carbon price would lead to extra costs for businesses and consumers.
The council recommended the Productivity Commission carry out regular reviews of the progress of other comparable countries and that all trade-exposed industries be eligible for a 100 per cent allocation of their permits to offset the cost.
"The cost impost on trade-exposed industries of any policy to price greenhouse gas emissions should be fully offset to ensure Australia's policy to price greenhouse gas emissions is trade and investment neutral," it said.
Senator Milne said the council's proposal was laughable.
"The council ought to be embracing a market mechanism ... the fact is we have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and we have to transform the economy," she said.
"What they are proposing, a $10 price and then 100 per cent compensation for anyone who is trade exposed, just isn't a realistic contribution to the debate."
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