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SIX weeks after the Federal Government introduced the carbon tax, only 10 per cent of businesses have changed their corporate strategy, new research has found.
The 2012 DHL Export Barometer shows 90 per cent of 785 businesses surveyed consider the $23 price on carbon “too hard”, blaming the government’s lack of detail. About 70 per cent believed the carbon price had been set too high.
“Most of the respondents have not planned or they obviously have not increased the cost of their products or the price of their products,” says DHL senior vice-president Gary Edstein.
“I think the government can do a lot more education in making the exporters more aware of the impact of the carbon tax.”
Nearly a third of companies were concerned the tax would hinder exports, which are already suffering due to the high Australian dollar.
DHL says the strong currency has hindered competitiveness of nearly two-thirds of exporters against overseas players, with agriculture (81 per cent) and manufacturing (67 per cent) being the hardest-hit sectors.
However, half of respondents still expect profitability to improve in the next 12 months with 57 per cent also anticipating a jump in export orders.
New Zealand topped the list of export destinations with a 50 per cent market share, compared to 39 per cent in 2011.
For more on how the carbon tax will affect your business, get your copy of the current issue of Gold Coast Business News.
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