BHP Billition Ltd is taking its battle against super-tax profits by hosting shareholder meetings nationwide to warn investors of the impact of the proposed resources tax.

BHP Billiton new chairman Jac Nasser said the information sessions around Australia will be an opportunity for the management and shareholders to discuss the proposed 40 per cent tax, after the company was flooded with shareholder complaints and letters.

BHP Billiton suffered a 4.5 per cent drop on the sharemarket yesterday.

Nasser said regional communities, service providers, superannuation funds and individual shareholders would also be unfairly impacted by the proposed tax measure.

"The proposed super tax fundamentally, abruptly and unfairly changes the rules of the game," said Nasser.

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has publicly criticised the proposal claiming that it would threaten Australia's competitiveness and jeopardise future investment.

The planned super-profits tax, if implemented, would raise the effective corporate tax rate from July 1, 2012 to about 40 per cent, scrapping about $9 billion from the mining industry. Mining executives said such amount of tax will definitely affect the operations and cash flow of their companies.

Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese said he was shocked by the tax proposal and urged shareholders to write the government with their views. It is expected that the controversial tax would also be discussed at Rio Tinto's annual general meeting next week.

Xstrata chief executive officer Mick Davis said the Australian government's proposed tax measure is the "biggest assault" in the mining industry. The Anglo-Swiss mining company has announced it had decided to suspend its exploration activities in north Queensland.