Confusion surrounds the fledgling Australian Trade and Industry Alliance and its advertising campaign against the federal government’s carbon price scheme, with industry groups unsure of its membership or direction.

Last week, reports surfaced that a group of business associations are preparing to spend at least $10 million building public opposition to the carbon tax under a new alliance. But at least two of the groups named have backed out of the campaign and it’s unclear who is organising the lobbying collective.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the groups involved include the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Food and Grocery Council and the Australian Coal Association. Two other groups named — the Plastics and Chemical Industries Association and the Australian Logistics Council — have now dissociated themselves from the campaign.

Crikey understands ACCI and the Minerals Council are co-ordinating the alliance, which had reached a level of “advanced development” according to The SMH, but ACCI director of communications Ben Carter said he could not provide any information on the alliance or confirm the group’s involvement.

“We have not committed to it at this stage, that’s all we can say,” he said. When questioned over who was taking leadership of the alliance, Carter said he had “absolutely no idea”.

The Minerals Council did not return Crikey‘s calls.

A statement quickly released from the Plastics and Chemicals group declared it had long supported action to address climate change. PACIA marketing and communications director John Osborn told Crikey he was not sure why the group had been named as a part of the alliance.

“All I can tell you is that we’re not involved and we’re on the record as being so,” he said.

The ALC also refuted claims it was involved. CEO Michael Kilgariff said he could not talk on behalf of other organisations, but he believes his group had been wrongly named in the alliance after forming part of a group of organisations to co-sign a letter to the prime minister in April that PACIA also signed. The letter called on Julia Gillard to confirm the government would ensure Australia’s trade sector would not be unfairly disadvantaged by a carbon tax.

“We were a signatory to that letter,” Kilgariff said. “I think there was an assumption we would continue to be in some sort of an alliance.”

Kilgariff says while it’s hard to make detailed comment on the government’s carbon price plan until details are released this Sunday, the ALC had not committed to any lobbying effort.

“Our board discussed it and we took a firm view that we would not make a commitment to any sort of an alliance,” he said. “It’s unlikely, in fact it’s very unlikely we’ll be joining with any industry groups.”

As yet the alliance has no official website and no industry association has gone on the public record about its membership or co-ordination, despite reports its advertising campaign will begin within seven days of the government announcing the final details of its carbon price scheme.

The other organisations reported to be members failed to return Crikey’s calls, and Australian Coal Association CEO Ralph Hillman made no mention of the alliance in his address to the National Press Club yesterday.