Senator Xenophon's contribution will be one quarter of the total cost of the modelling, with the other $30,000 to be paid by the Coalition through general party fund-raising.

The modelling is the result of a deal between Senator Xenophon and the Coalition to delay a vote on the legislation this week until the Parliament next sits in August. The Opposition supported amendments to ensure a vote on August 13.

Senator Xenophon was last night investigating if he could use part of his $32,000 allowance, usually spent on raffle tickets and local donations, to pay for the modelling. If he can't use the allowance he will pay the costs out of his own pocket.

The modelling will investigate a variety of emissions trading designs, including the Government's cap and trade scheme, and their effects on electricity prices and regional jobs.

Senator Xenophon yesterday characterised the Government as "used car dealers" in their attempt to push through its emissions trading scheme legislation this week.

The Opposition spokesman for emissions trading, Andrew Robb, said the Coalition would "wait and see what the report finds" before it commits to any amendments to the Government trading plans, including proposing a different model.

The Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, said the Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull, had previously backed a cap and trade design proposed by the Government.

"Well I have to say that it is a bit curious that Mr Robb would be paying for modelling to model an alternative to the policy that the Liberal party have been committed to," she said.

The modelling will be conducted by European firm Frontier Economics, headed in Australia by managing director Danny Price, a personal friend of Senator Xenophon.

Frontier Economics has conducted modelling for the NSW State Government on the Government's emissions trading scheme finding it would cost Australia $2 trillion over 40 years.

Mr Price joined Mr Xenophon on a self-funded trip last year across Canada to investigate that country's then-proposed "threshold" emissions trading design. Pundits now expect Canada will move to adopt a cap and trade emissions scheme in line with one before the US House of Representatives.

Both Mr Xenophon and Mr Price have publicly supported a "threshold" model for emissions trading.