“They are simply deadweight costs that none of Australia's minerals export competitors face,” Hooke said.

“These costs undermine value and reduce Australia's international competitiveness at a time when all business costs are increasing, commodity prices are tempering and the dollar remains stubbornly high.”

Hooke’s statement came as the Coalition abolished the Climate Commission and Environment Minister Greg Hunt signed away the Climate Change authority.

The MCA CEO said that the cost of the carbon tax on Australia's minerals industry now exceeded $1.2 billion a year when the price of emissions permits, the impact on diesel fuel and higher energy charges were included.

Calling the carbon tax a “massive impost” and “a significant policy mistake”, Hooke said the Coalition’s ambition to scrap the “deadweight” tax should be respected by other parties in the Parliament.

“It loaded Australia's economy with unsustainable costs and has failed to achieve its environmental objective,” Hooke continued.

“The minerals industry has every expectation that the Coalition will deliver on its election commitments and expects the Parliament will respect the authority the electorate has given them to abolish all elements of the carbon tax.”