The two independent MPs crucial to getting the carbon tax through parliament say the announcement of a $12 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign is 'unhelpful' at this stage of talks.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet on Thursday said the government would spend $12 million on a campaign once a deal was reached with the multi-party committee working on the carbon pricing scheme, which is expected within weeks.
But independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor said they weren't consulted on the campaign.
'There is only one word for this announcement today and that is 'unhelpful',' Mr Oakeshott told reporters in Canberra, saying it came at an 'incredibly sensitive time' in a negotiation that was complex.
'I would strongly urge the government to reconsider their decision to put the focus on selling something that doesn't exist and (instead) put the focus on getting a good policy that should sell itself.'
Mr Windsor said the committee may not eventually come to a consensus, leaving it to the government to produce its own legislation.
'The next fortnight is pretty crucial in terms of the multi-party climate change committee trying to work through a process ... but it hasn't been concluded,' he said.
'We are being asked to be part of the process that determines the thing they want to promote.
'And we haven't finished that determination, so it almost puts us in the position that we are endorsing the spending on public funds on propaganda and I'm not prepared to do that.'
Mr Windsor said he did not believe it would delay the committee's talks.
'It won't harm them from my perspective ... but it doesn't deserve to be trivialised by announcing some sort of promotion campaign,' he said.
Mr Combet said the government would seek the approval of an independent body for the content of the ad campaign, to ensure it did not breach guidelines for political advertising.
The $12 million set aside paled in comparison to the $121 million spent by the Howard government advertising Work Choices and $118 million to promote the GST, he said.
The campaign would not only spell out how the carbon price will work but showcase the work of 'every day Australians to achieve a clean energy future'.
'Climate change is a significant economic and environmental challenge that affects all Australians,' Mr Combet said.
'The government has a responsibility to provide the Australian community with clear information on climate change and to explain the context and objectives of its climate policy.'
The spending comes on top of the $13 million set aside in the federal budget for 'public engagement'.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt said it was an 'abuse of public money'.
'Australia's mums and dads are being asked to pay for the government to advertise why mums and dads should pay higher electricity prices,' he told reporters.
The climate change committee is expected to meet on Friday and over the weekend.
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