Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The government is committed to delivering the benefits of the mining boom to all Australians, regardless of where they live. Without a new resources tax Australians would miss out on the share of the superprofits being generated from the development of resources right across the country. Australians deserve a fairer share of the benefits of the use of their resources.

As I said earlier, we want to make sure that those benefits go to all working Australians, to small businesses and into investment in infrastructure in this country that will support communities—to roads, to bridges, to ports: things that will support the economy but also support the quality of life of all Australians. So, while we are making specific investments in states like Western Australia and Queensland in the Regional Infrastructure Fund, we are making sure that all working families benefit from this tax and from the superprofits being enjoyed by the resources companies.