Ferguson Bucks Mining Tax on Gold
Australian Resources Minister Martin Ferguson flatly rejected on Wednesday the Greens' proposal to include gold in the proposed mineral resources rent tax (MRRT), SkyNews reports.
"There has been very detailed consultation and reworking of that document to meet the agreement entered into prior to the last election, Mr Ferguson told ABC Radio.
"I simple say to the Greens and Independents - It's about time they move on.... This is an appropriate taxation outcome," he added.
The minister responded to a claim by Greens leader Bob Brown that a tax on gold would bring in additional $1.8 billion to government coffers over a decade. The MRRT, which aims to replace the 40 per cent resource super profits tax scrapped in 2010 by Prime Minister Julia Gillard when she took over the reins of government from Kevin Rudd, is limited to coal and ore mining.
It was based on consultations with the top three Australian mining firms. The MRRT will be discussed by about 200 representatives of various public and private sectors and institutions in the tax summit on Oct. 4 and 5 organized by the federal government.