When governments, public servants, economists, academics and law experts spoke about a "carbon tax" as a possible mechanism for the reduction of carbon they referred to a consumption tax on specific goods. In general discourse, placing a regulatory price on the production of carbon like this one was seriously considered a "carbon tax" any more than Tony Abbott's descriptions of Rudd's "CPRS" as a "Great Big New Tax" were treated seriously by any but the party faithful. A consumption tax on specific goods was the Greens Policy prior to 2010 for anyone who cared to read it.
The discussion of a regulatory price on the production of carbon as a "carbon tax" only entered the political lexicon after the 2010 election, you can see in this article
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nati...-1225907522983 that Gillard never ruled out placing a price on carbon production. It was a carbon tax in the sense that it was previously used which she ruled out.
It is fine to debate the merits of different forms of climate action, less so the need for climate action but still that's within the bounds of reason but can we finally stop this pathetic, delusory line of argument that she unequivocally and specifically ruled out the legislation which she has just enacted. It is just, plain wrong.