More than 50 per cent of Australians want to delay the introduction of an emissions trading scheme until after global climate change talks in Copenhagen, a new survey suggests.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is using the figures to urge the government and the coalition to hold back on legislation presently before parliament.
The two parties are negotiating to get an amended form of the government's carbon pollution reduction scheme through the Senate before parliament rises for the year on Thursday.
But 54 per cent of Australians would rather wait, according to the survey.
The public had various concerns about the government's scheme, with 71 per cent believing it will equate to higher electricity prices.
Almost every second person believes it will cost jobs, should Australia be one of the few countries to move on the climate change issue.
And 82 per cent felt the government had not given them enough information about the scheme to allow them to make an informed decision.
The chamber's chief executive Peter Anderson said it was a warning to the government and the opposition not to rush the legislation.
"There is a good deal of caution being expressed by the public to our political leaders to take a deep breath, act cautiously rather than act as a result of the political moment," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
The greater priority was to make sure they get the scheme right and to act globally, otherwise Australians faced great risks, Mr Anderson said.
Of the 1,052 people surveyed during the past weekend, 34 per cent wanted to pass the ETS legislation, while 12 per cent remained uncommitted.
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