Australian tourism chiefs have criticised the UK government for introducing a new departures tax set to significantly increase the price of air fares.
The Australian Tourism Export Council says the new tax will add between $100 (£55.41) and $200 to the price of a ticket downunder.
From today (November 2nd), Air Passenger Duty will change to a distance-based charge calculated by a flight's carbon footprint.
Matt Hingerty, the council's managing director, said the move is a backwards step that will damage an already weakened inbound tourism market hit by the global economic crisis.
"Our local tourism industry, which employs nearly 500,000 people, can ill-afford additional taxes of this nature at this time," he added.
Mr Hingerty alleged that the climate change debate is being used as an excuse for a "protectionist" fundraising exercise by the UK government.
The Daily Telegraph has posted a petition on its website calling for the government to scrap the duty altogether.
Downunder - providing competitive
cheap travel insurance in the UK for over fifteen years.