The Commonwealth government’s mining tax, the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT), has been a continuing source of controversy. It is easy to point to its significant problems, but a considerable challenge…
Martin Ferguson, Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan announced the MRRT in 2010 … but three ministers and three miners do not a policy make.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Most controversial public policy could be said to be made on the run, or at least amended on a brisk walk.
So the revelations in Peter Martin’s recent article on the errors embedded in the Gillard government…
The abolition of royalties, as well as fluctuations in iron ore and coal prices, have had an effect on the mining tax’s capacity to generate revenue.
AAP
Why hasn’t the Minerals Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) produced significant revenue?
The answer lies in a combination of basic features of the MRRT design, and the recent fluctuation in prices of iron ore…
The Federal government has ruled out changing the Minerals Resources Rent Tax, but how will it boost income?
Last Friday’s announcement that the Minerals Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) had brought in only $126 million in its first two quarters makes the Government’s initial assessment of a windfall $2 billion in its…
The Mining industry’s “This is our Story” campaign showing the sector’s relationship with ordinary Australians may be part of a longer term strategy to avoid further taxation.
Screenshot from thisisourstory.com.au
Have you wondered why those chipper ads that share the personal stories of mining workers are still being rolled out on TV and at cinemas? In one, I recently learned about a sweet group of women whose…
Fortescue founder and current non-executive chairman, Andrew Forrest has been a prominent critic of the federal government’s mining tax. The company has finally launched a much anticipated High Court challenge to the tax.
AAP
Perth-based mining giant Fortescue Metals Group has launched a last-minute High Court action against the mining tax, planning to argue the legislation – due to start on July 1 – breaches the Australian…
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called on miners to accept that the resources they mine belong to the people.
AAP Image/Alan Porritt
Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered one of her strongest messages to the mining sector last night, telling mining bosses at a Minerals Industry dinner in Canberra that they don’t own Australia’s minerals…
Taxing mining: too high, and it discourages foreign capital inflow. But political lobbying can also mean it is set too low.
AAP
The mining boom is making Australia potentially wealthier, but also creating problems because of the high exchange rate. What should government policies be?
There are two issues, and it is very important…
“Fairfax looks very exciting,”: mining magnate Clive Palmer expresses an interest in media.
AAP
The mining industry is used to having its voice heard in Australian public debates, so it should come as no surprise that mining billionaires such as Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer would consider buying…
There’s not much money in newspapers, but plenty of chances to promote your views.
AAP
News that Gina Rinehart has reportedly attained a 12.8% stake in Fairfax Media (and is seeking just under 15%) is bad for the Australian media environment: it potentially puts yet another billionaire in…
If we’re going to talk about how safe CSG is (or isn’t), we need to look at the full picture.
AAP/Origin Energy
The Mineral Resources Rent Tax passed through the House of Representatives last week, but not without negotiations with the Greens and independent MPs.
Perhaps the most significant outcome of negotiations…
Changes to the MRRT will leave a gaping hole the revenue the tax originally promised.
AAP
Federal Labor’s mining profits tax was originally designed to be a redistributive measure from a very profitable section of capital to all of capital through company tax cuts.
The mini-me Mineral Resources…
It could take years to learn more about the impacts of CSG, but can we afford to wait?
AAP/Alan Porritt
By Malcolm Cox, Queensland University of Technology
Independent MP Tony Windsor has said he won’t back the government’s Mineral Resources Rent Tax unless more is done to make coal seam gas mining sustainable.
He has called for $200-400 million annually…
Cutting company tax rates reflects Labor’s continuing acceptance of a neoliberal agenda when it comes to tax reform.
AAP
The introduction of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax into federal parliament marks the next step in Labor’s neoliberal tax reform agenda.
Another example, the carbon tax, is poised to pass through the Senate…
People employed in the mining industry are enjoying the boom, but what about the rest of us?
AAP
One of the most interesting features of the mining boom is the way that it is opening up old, and unresolved, political and policy debates in Australia.
Do we trust that the benefits to the small group…
Some facts about BHP Billiton.
Its full year annual profit of $US23.6 billion ($A22.46 billion) is the largest ever for an Australian corporation and is double that of last year’s.
It employs close to…
