Mining tax publicity wars set to continue
A resumption of the publicity campaign against the Labor government's Mineral Resources Rent Tax is part of political schemes aimed at the elections, Treasurer Wayne Swan claims.
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies which speaks for small and middle tier mining firms, has announced on Sunday that it is now preparing to resume its publicity campaign.
Andrew Forrest, chief of Fortescue Metals and forthright critic of the new mining tax, has announced that he is prepared to invest resources in public campaign opposing the proposed MRRT (Mineral Resources Rent Tax) of the government.
He refused calls to fund the campaign opposing the now-shelved Resources Super Profits Tax earlier.
AMEC asserts that small and medium level mining firms were not appropriately consulted regarding the revised mining tax which was presented forward after discussions between the Gillard government and major mining firms BHP Billiton, Xstrata, and Rio Tinto.
However, Mr. Swan said he and Martin Ferguson, the Minister for Resources, were being true in their discussions with the smaller mining firms regarding their issues surrounding the MRRT.
"Their concerns are ones that we do take on board," he said in a radio interview with ABC in Perth.
"But parallel to that process we have got some people out there who are running a political campaign and a political agenda in the context of the election, particularly with the advertising."
Mr. Swan said majority of the smaller mining firms he was discussing with were not part of the "partisan campaign".
What Mr. Forrest's plans are, is wholly up to him, he added.
"What we've got with the MRRT I think is a pretty broad-based agreement across the mining industry."
Mr. Swan said the Gillard administration would place an infrastructure fund in the regional level that would channel $2 billion to West Australia, specifically to aid mining communities with their difficulties.
On the other hand, the Liberals are planning to introduce a new company tax that is higher by 3 per cent than the one put forward by Labor, the Treasurer said.