Abbott's tours govt-supported ice factory OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has toured an ice factory in Adelaide to campaign against the carbon tax on the same day the federal government provided a grant to cut the company's energy costs. Mr Abbott went to Adelaide Ice Service on Friday, saying the company was a victim of the tax because of increasing costs for power and refrigerant gases. He said the company had been forced to operate off peak because of exorbitant power prices. "This is another very iconic Australian business which is going to be badly damaged by the carbon tax," Mr Abbott told reporters. But the federal government said revenue from the carbon tax would help Adelaide Ice Service cut its energy costs by $20,000 a year. It said the company had been awarded a $90,000 grant from the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Program to install an 87.5-kilowatt solar power system. "Adelaide Ice Service provides an important service to many local businesses, and through this simple project the company is helping the environment and reducing its own costs," local federal MP Mark Butler said. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the federal government was working with the manufacturing sector to find ways to improve production processes and reduce emissions. "Labor has committed to work with industry to help reduce energy costs, reduce emissions and improve competitiveness," he said. A spokeswoman for the minister said the grant to Adelaide Ice Service had been been finalised earlier this month and given final approval earlier this week. She said companies were selected by an independent committee to keep the process at arm's length from the minister.