New name, same old great big tax
2nd July, 2010
A name change and some tinkering on the Rudd-Gillard Government’s mining tax does not hide the fact that more than $10 billion will be ripped out of regional Australia over its first two years, said Nationals Leader Warren Truss.“The Coalition will oppose this new tax in opposition, and if it becomes law will rescind it,” Mr Truss said today.
“It is clear that big mining companies had a gun held to their heads, while the smaller companies were excluded from discussions altogether. Kevin Rudd was sacked for not consulting – two ministers did this deal without consulting colleagues and ignored the views of more than 3,000 mining companies.
“It also appears that today’s announcement relates only to ‘principles’ and there is much work to be done, even beyond the next election.
“No-one can trust the Labor Party. More promises were broken today, adding to a very long list. Post the election, Labor will try to rip more money out of the regions, including through an emissions trading scheme.
“This tax has no other reason to exist than to pay back Labor’s reckless spending of the past three years. That economic mismanagement has cost the country dearly, with the mining tax proposal contributing to lost jobs and investment and a sullying of Australia’s international reputation.
“The name change to the Mineral Resource Rent Tax is designed to distance Ms Gillard from her original decision to strongly support the Resource Super Profits Tax. It is nothing but typical Labor spin.
“Labor seems to think that more than $10 billion it wants to grab from the mining industry will have no flow on effect. Of course, it will, and those that will pay live in the regions.
“This is a bad tax under the old name and remains a bad tax under its new name,” Mr Truss said.
