Carbon tax to make some Aussies poorer: MP

(AAP) Some Australians would be poorer under a carbon tax, an independent MP says.
Independent member for Denison Andrew Wilkie said a price on carbon would hit the pockets of Australians.
"Some people are going to be worse off," Mr Wilkie told ABC Television on Monday.
"Industry must clean up its act."
Mr Wilkie said the design of the carbon tax and its linked compensation package must look after the poorer members of the community.
"While I don't favour excessive compensation as part of this mechanism, I do think the people who can least afford added costs of living do need to be fairly compensated," he said.
He said an effective mechanism to lower carbon emissions to mitigate climate change was the imperative, while not hindering local industries significantly.
The government has a target of reducing Australia's carbon emissions by five per cent of 2000 levels by 2020.
"There needs to be not too great a jolt, that's the bottom line," he said.
"These industries do need to clean up their act, they do need to be forced into action by an effective mechanism and an effective price on carbon.
"We need to be sensible about this."
Mr Wilkie said he was "quite optimistic" about the progress of the multi-party climate change committee in designing a price on carbon.
"I do sense the government, the Greens and the crossbenchers are working very responsibly," he said.
"I'm quite hopeful about the outcome."
Mr Wilkie's vote is crucial for the government as it needs four of the six crossbenchers to pass its bill when it appears in the House of Representatives.