Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I make no apology for standing up for working Australians and small business in the national interest. There is a lot of misinformation being pushed by some of those companies involved, and these myths do need to be cleared up. There is a real hunger out there in the community to know more about these reforms and what they do to strengthen our economy. Our tax plan will ensure a fair share of the proceeds of the resources boom is invested in a stronger economy for all Australians. By replacing royalties with a resource super profits tax we will be delivering higher retirement savings for Australians, more roads, more rail and ports and less business tax and red tape, especially for small business.

Before the last boom Australians got one dollar in every three out of the mining profits through royalties and charges, and at the end of that boom they got one dollar in every seven. The resource super profits tax aims to restore the share of mining profits going to Australians. These are significant reforms. As Cabinet Secretary, the government’s campaign framework provided that I may exempt campaigns from compliance with the guidelines. I accept the Treasurer’s advice that there is an active campaign of misinformation about the proposed changes. Even media commentators agreed, with Laurie Oakes writing on 29 May 2010 that:

The mining industry campaign it is certainly over the top, and difficult to counter.

A tax reform package of this significance would normally involve a public information campaign, and now it is time for the mining industry—(Time expired)