A Tax Too Far?

It seems that the Australian Government (a Labour/Green party coalition) is in trouble over a relatively modest (according to many commentators) carbon tax (http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2092749/gillard-australian-carbon-tax-promises-clean-energy-future). The proposals (hitting the 20 or so major polluters in the country) have led to furious demonstations and claims that the measures will 'destroy the Australian way of life'. This seems superficially odd given the fact that the Australian economy seems to be the most vulnerable (consider the 'fire storms', droughts and floods of recent times) of the developed nations to the effects of climate change. Australians are, however, on a per capita basis major generators of carbon dioxide release and big business, with media help, seems intent on not even entertaining the possibility of anthropogenic effects on climate.