"This is a way of having a vote without having an election," Mr Abbott told the Herald Sun.
"The people should have a say before the Parliament votes and not afterwards."
But Mr Abbott also told 3AW today that if he was successful in forcing a plebiscite and the result found the people wanted a carbon tax, he would not accept it.
He said he would remain opposed to it and would ?rescind it? if he became Prime Minister.