Direct action report a whitewash: Hunt

A parliamentary report, critical of the Abbott government's direct action climate plans, has been dubbed a whitewash by Environment Minister Greg Hunt.

The report from the Greens- and Labor-dominated Senate committee recommended the government not replace carbon pricing with direct action, saying it would be more expensive and less effective at cutting emissions.

The committee said there was little evidence direct action would reduce emissions in any meaningful way, or even meet Australia's five per cent reduction target.

But Mr Hunt rubbished the report, which recommended the government adopt a more ambitious emissions target.

"This was written by Labor and Greens senators - of course they're going to be running a whitewash of their own policy," Mr Hunt told ABC Radio on Thursday.

"We'll achieve our targets."

Direct action offers financial incentives to businesses that cut their greenhouse gas emissions at lowest cost.

The government is due to hand down its white paper on the policy next month.