SYDNEY -- The Australian Federal Government has begun to sell its carbon tax to industry and households across the country and details of the controversial scheme were unveiled Sunday, local media reported on Monday.

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard talks with financial sector worker Craig Cochrane and his family about the implications of the new carbon tax in west Sydney July 11, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Sunday's announcement revealed about 500 big polluters will pay an initial 23 AU dollars ($24.61) for every ton of carbon they put into the atmosphere from July 2012, with the tax rising by 2.5 percent a year until the tax changes to an emissions trading scheme in 2015.

The government has promised billions in compensation through tax reform and direct payments, saying the average household will be 20 AU cents (21.4 US cents) a week better off.

About 8 million households will receive some assistance, while one in 10 will be left out.
The government said more than half the revenue raised will go to helping households meet price rises of 9.90 AU dollars ($10.59) a week on average under the initial price.

Average assistance will come to 10.10 AU dollars ($10.81), the government said.
"For five million households this will fully meet your average extra costs," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in an address to the nation on Sunday evening.

She has vowed to "wear out her shoe leather" selling the plan to Australians, and will take it to the airwaves on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV program Q & A on Monday night, the ABC said.

Industries affected by the change will get 9.2 billion AU dollars ($9.84 billion) over the next three years.

However, Minerals Council of Australia Chief Executive Officer Mitch Hooke said the climate plan would "take a baseball bat to the Australian economy" and do little to reduce emissions.