Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Back for the supplementary question. The former government locked in $16.7 billion of spending—that is on an underlying cash basis—against a tax that has raised barely $400 million, and it has cost the ATO $50 million to collect that $400 million. This tax goes against everything our country must do to be an attractive investment destination and a competitive supplier of minerals.

Mining directly employs 270,000 Australians, with another 800,000 or more relying on the mining sector for their work and income. Mining is a hugely important sector for the economy and it represents about 55 per cent of merchandising exports from Australia. I will finish in the 10 seconds left open in this supplementary question to say that Mr Shorten can do something prior to the Senate election in Western Australia and that is tell the people of Western Australia what his real view is on the mining— (Time expired)