FED:PM Gillard stands by mining tax plan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2011
FED:PM Gillard stands by mining tax plan

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she won't be changing the minerals resources rent
tax which she negotiated with big resource companies last year.

The Australian Greens have released a report today showing the MRRT - which replaced
the resource super profits tax proposed by former prime minister Kevin Rudd - would reap
up to 115 billion dollars less revenue over nine years than Mr Rudd's plan.

Ms GILLARD says the legislation will go through parliament this year and the tax would
start in July next year.

She says the huge profit announced yesterday by BHP Billiton shows there's no reason
for the tax to be changed, especially when the high Aussie dollar is putting pressure
on parts of the economy.

AAP RTV pjo/rl/crh

KEYWORD: MRRT (CANBERRA)

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