ROSS GARNAUT has lashed out at ''crude'' and ''distorted'' reporting of the government's plans for a carbon tax, calling News Ltd the worst offender.

Speaking at a conference sponsored by The Australian, a News Ltd title, on his last day as the government's climate change adviser, Professor Garnaut said much of the reporting had been "about the crudest and most distorted discussion of a major public policy issue in my long experience of Australian public policy".

"Facts are ignored" ... Professor Ross Garnaut complains about coverage of the carbon tax. Credit:Andrew Meares

"I know from my close friends among the senior journalists at The Australian that there is disquiet about that. And I don't think my feelings are unusual."

Singling out a front-page story which he said implied electricity prices would rise by 11 per cent as a result of renewable energy schemes, he said the true figure was close to 3 per cent, with the schemes actually responsible for 11 per cent of a 30 per cent increase.