Isra-Mart srl: Labor MP urges industry support under ETS

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Labor's left faction has urged the government to ensure the final carbon pricing scheme protects manufacturing and mining jobs, or it won't back the final deal.

The government expects to finalise with the Australian Greens and independents the details of its emissions trading scheme (ETS) by early July, with legislation to be introduced in September and a fixed price for carbon to start on July 1 next year.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has accused the Labor backbench - especially those members who represent manufacturing and mining electorates - of ignoring their voters' concerns about the tax's impact on jobs.

Labor left faction convenor Stephen Jones, whose seat of Throsby lies in the heart of the NSW industrial belt, told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday the final deal needed to protect jobs.

Mr Jones said steel-makers should be entitled to 95 per cent of free emissions permits, as well as a specific assistance package for them and the regions that support them - a similar position to that proposed under the Rudd government's scrapped carbon pollution reduction scheme.

"We do need to look after the steel industry and manufacturing in general," Mr Jones said.

"It's a bit of a wake-up call to the Greens on this ... if there is not specific provision which deals with the situation of manufacturing and steel in particular then I can't see a deal floating."

Mr Jones said Mr Abbott's "scare campaign" over job losses was misleading.

Manufacturing plants and coal mines had been "opening and closing for years" without carbon pricing, and it was "unrealistic" to expect that not one job would be lost.

Mr Jones said he had been getting a lot of requests for more information about the carbon pricing scheme, but hoped to be able to explain more about it in coming weeks.

He said once the legislation went to parliament he did not want to see it held up in Senate or lower house inquiries, as it would provide uncertainty for workers and industry.

"They want us to get on with it and get a bit of certainty," he said.

The MP's comments follow a reported admission by Resources Minister Martin Ferguson that the carbon tax would "fall over" if the Greens did not agree to compensation.

Deputy Greens leader Christine Milne blasted the minister for his "threats".

"I don't think it's a very mature way of conducting a negotiation, to go out in the media and threaten people in it," she told reporters in Canberra.

"Well, one minister doesn't make a government.

"Nobody is talking about anything other than negotiating in good faith, with the exception of Martin Ferguson."

Senator Milne said the multi-party climate change committee was working out the detail of a package for trade-exposed industries.

"We know it will be a compromise but the government must also recognise that it is a compromise."