There’s the spin and then there’s the reality.
Resources Super Profits Tax
McCrann: Gillard’s trio of lies
During the election campaign Julia Gillard made three big promises - concerning boats, carbon tax and miners - and all of them have amounted to big fat nothing, says Terry McCrann.
The mining stoush: it ain’t over yet
The deal Julia Gillard cut last year with the big three mining companies - BHP, Rio Tinto and Xstrata - is reportedly under threat of unraveling, with the PM and the three companies embroiled in a dispute about whether refund royalties should apply retrospectively.
Kohler: Abbott can still drive tax reform
The most important thing to come out of the past two weeks of horse-trading has been the plan to hold a tax summit. Or at least it could be. It could also be a complete waste of time.
For Twiggy, war on Labor and MRRT remains an option
While the business community and much of the industry has moved on after the creation of the MRRT, Twiggy remains devoted to the cause, threatening to re-declare war on Labor with another mining advertising blitz.
The magician’s assistant: Henry gives the game away
Treasury Secretary Ken Henry has confirmed that the changes to the government’s resource rent tax regime only reduced the revenue by $1.5 billion because commodity price forecasts were revised between the two taxes.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: The challenges of addressing mental health
Crikey readers weigh in on mental health, Gillard vs. the miners and Dick Smith’s take on population and immigration.
Kohler: Rudd an autocratic idiot, and Gillard shouldn’t be let off the hook
Situation normal in Canberra? Alan Kohler addressed a group of senior public servants in Canberra last night and ruffled their feathers with an alternative view of the affair.
Minerals Council: super excited over resource tax backdown
The mining sector is celebrating its compromise agreement with the federal government over the no-longer-super profits tax scheme. Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Mitchell Hooke issued this memorandum to members this morning.
Far more serious matters than RSPT undermining confidence
Just wait for the big miners to start bleating about lower prices, even after the favourable impact of the fall in the Australian dollar is taken into account.
Miners dig the new tax
The government has given the mining industry nearly everything it wants — and dramatically slashed the rate that would have applied under the RSPT.
Political snippets: The Treasurer and Treasury the losers
The prestige and influence of Wayne Swan and his department suffered mightily this morning, following the scrapping of the mining super profits tax
Crikey Says: Mining tax compromise, but no deal for our most vulnerable
Crisis over. Except if you are one of the millions — yes, millions — crippled by mental illness in this country.
Done deal: Gillard’s mining tax compromise
Daily Media Wrap: It was the compromise we had to have, with Julia Gillard announcing this morning the government’s new deal with the mining industry.
Richardson: Rudd only has himself to blame
Prominent ALP identity Graham Richardson says Kevin Rudd’s undoing was completely his own fault. Rudd couldn’t see that his RSPT plan was useless and he treated his colleagues terribly.
Miners ruthlessly slayed Rudd
Corporations shouldn’t control our nation, yet the mining bigwigs played an important part in ousting Kevin Rudd from the prime ministership. Let’s not let it happen again, writes Peter Menadue.
Kohler: Rudd only has himself (and the RSPT) to blame
Kevin Rudd had the great misfortune to have single-handedly saved Australia from a global recession in his first 12 months. That lit a flame of hubris that has now burnt him down.
Miners not interested in compromise: coal industry source
While there is speculation of a Government compromise on the RSPT, the mining industry has made clear it doesn’t want any deal, even on the most generous terms, according to a senior coal industry source.
Mining: not that great for indigenous Australia
Much of the talk around the RSPT and the mining industry is about how valuable mining is to indigenous communities. But that depends on what you define “progress” as, says Sarah Burnside.
Henry more suited to a bad Korea move and less scrutiny
The Resources Super Profits Tax, the monstrosity devised by Ken Henry, is certainly not the solution. And yes, pesky economists and commentators will continue to criticise it.
Atkins: Killing the ETS killed Rudd’s popularity
It’s not the mining tax that’s had a massive effect on Rudd’s polling, it’s voters becoming disillusioned by the shelving of the ETS. But he will lead the party to the next election, writes Dennis Atkins.
Rudd’s hapless communications strategy
For a government constantly accused of media management and spin, they’re pretty useless. The media has gone feral and the Government’s media contingent appear clueless about what to do.
Residential housing market losing its froth
While the federal government does its best to quell the booming mining sector, the other boom area, residential housing, appears to be finally losing its froth.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: The problem with Tony
A few corrections and clarifications from the world of Crikey mishaps. One reader tells Crikey that the Liberals under Tony Abbott have forgotten moderate liberal voters.
Apples and oranges: the tax is a matter of ROCE
The debate on the RSPT, to date, is not getting to the heart of the matter. For whatever reason, the wrong financial metrics are being used, says Munif Mohammed.
