Australian business calls for carbon tax

SYDNEY, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The head of a Australian property giant on Friday asked business leaders to support the introduction of a carbon tax and an emissions trading scheme, saying climate change should be put firmly back on the political and business agenda.

"A price on carbon will ensure Australia is well positioned to face the future and while both political parties vie for office, we have an opportunity to firmly place this issue back on the agenda," Lend Lease chief executive Rod Leaver said in a statement.

Leaver made the comments in his new role as chairman of the National Business Leaders" Forum on Sustainable Development (NBLF).

"I am urging other business leaders in Australia to speak out and show their support for the introduction of an emissions trading scheme within the next year."

The NBLF is calling for 23 key reforms, including a 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and a 90 percent cut by 2050.