The revelation came as the government dramatically stepped up the pressure on the opposition demanding that it stop its ''flip-flopping'' on the carbon tax and wave through the ''carbon tax'' repeal immediately.

Confident: Greg Hunt has no doubts the policy can be introduced without legislation. Credit:Andrew Meares

In a move transparently timed to force the issue as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten convened his first shadow cabinet meeting, Mr Hunt demanded that the ALP hold true to its pre-election claim to have ''terminated'' the carbon tax.

Mr Hunt said the government preferred taking the policy to the Parliament. He stressed there was ''no doubt'' that the $3 billion policy, which will use a reverse auction from a pool of taxpayer funds known as the Emission Reduction Fund, can be introduced without legislation.

''We would like Direct Action to be approved by the Parliament, we are not waiting for the new Senate and we'll be proceeding but there are two separate actions on the table here,'' he said referring to the repeal of the carbon price and the Direct Action program.