Senate debates
Friday, 16 March 2012
Bills
Minerals Resource Rent Tax Bill 2011, Minerals Resource Rent Tax (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011, Minerals Resource Rent Tax (Imposition — General) Bill 2011, Minerals Resource Rent Tax (Imposition — Customs) Bill 2011, Minerals Resource Rent Tax (Imposition — Excise) Bill 2011, Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Assessment Amendment Bill 2011, Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (Imposition — General) Bill 2011, Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (Imposition — Customs) Bill 2011, Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (Imposition — Excise) Bill 2011, Tax Laws Amendment (Stronger, Fairer, Simpler and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Bill 2011; Second Reading
10:35 am
Alan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source
The Minerals Resource Rent Tax Bill 2011 is a very important bill with very grave consequences and I have some important points to make in criticising it. The government's proposed minerals resource rent tax, or mining tax as it has become known, is like a pinata: no matter where you stand, it is pretty easy to take a swipe at, and that is because it has so many faults. And, for good reason, there will be no sweet return for the Australian people, despite what the government would have us believe. This version of the mining tax has been conceived in secrecy as the result of a deal between the three big mining companies BHP, Rio and Xstrata. What cosy company the government keeps, one might say.
Senator Conroy interjecting—
Senator Mason interjecting—
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