GOLD Coast City Council could be hit with an annual bill in excess of $4 million in carbon tax liability for the Reedy Creek landfill alone, according to leader of the opposition Tony Abbott.

Mr Abbott was at the waste disposal centre this morning joined by Federal Member for McPherson Karen Andrews and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

The opposition leader took the opportunity to slam the Federal Government on the carbon tax and border protection.

He said Gold Coast City Council was just one of 104 councils around the country scrambling to calculate what its carbon tax liability would be.

"Councils are very reluctant to hit ratepayers with swinging increases and yet they fear that they might have to because of vast and very difficult to quantify carbon tax liabilities," Mr Abbott said.

"This is typical of the current government which always does things late and without proper forethought."

He also accused the government of having "lost control of our borders" with another three boats reportedly arriving in Australian waters in the last four days.

Mr Tate said Gold Coast ratepayers wouldn't see the estimated 3% increase to the waste levy as the council was confident the coalition would have the legislation repealed within 12 months.

"Our councillors and myself have decided not to put it on the levy because my faith is in the Liberal National Party government," Mr Tate said.

"People are hurting out there and we can't afford to increase our rates any further.

"So, we're going to cap it and not pay for it, because I believe that 12 months, it's a long time for Julia Gillard's government and they won't be there."

Mrs Andrews said the Gold Coast City Council could be slugged with more than $7 million a year in total.