Windsor firm on mining tax

2 Nov 2011, 8:35 am   -   Source: AAP
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Tony Windsor. (AAP)

Tony Windsor. (AAP)

Independent MP Tony Windsor says he is 'not open to negotiation' when it comes to his support for the federal government's mining tax legislation.

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Independent MP Tony Windsor says he is "not open to negotiation" when it comes to his support for the federal government's Mineral Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) legislation.

As the federal government prepares to introduce legislation for its mining tax on Wednesday, Mr Windsor says he wants assurances on coal seam gas (CSG) mining before he will support the proposed tax on coal and iron ore miners.

His comments came as a poll showed most people believe Australians are not benefiting from the minerals boom.

The internal research conducted for the Labor Party shows 68 per cent of voters believe average Australians are not benefiting from the boom, Fairfax reported on Wednesday.

Just 21 per cent of the 1000 people polled by UMR Research believe Australians are benefiting.

Mr Windsor told ABC Television: "I've made it plain that unless something is done in terms of the issues that are out there at the moment ... that I won't be supporting the legislation."

He wants up to $400 million a year set aside from the tax revenue to fund bio-regional assessments which would scientifically gauge the impact of coal seam gas and other mining practices on farmland.

As well, he wants greater Commonwealth powers over mining projects approvals, now the domain of states and territories.

"Some people have suggested that is a gun to head of government," Mr Windsor said.

"I've suggested to those people they should go out and talk to the people who blockaded BHP for 621 days and see what a gun to the head actually means in terms of stresses and strains.

"Now we have it again on the Liverpool Plains."

Farmers on the Liverpool Plains, in Mr Windsor's northern NSW electorate of New England, are engaged in a running battle with mining companies over proposals for coal and CSG projects.

Now was the time to draw "a line in the sand" on the issue, Mr Windsor said.

"I'm confident there will be a settlement because I think there's a coming together and maybe this is the pressure, the line in the sand that's required," he said.

"There's a coming together of the Commonwealth in terms of this issue."

Mr Windsor had a meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan on Tuesday.

"They are genuinely looking at this. I've got absolutely no doubt about that," he said.

"There are some complexities in terms of the relationship between the Commonwealth and the states.

"But I would suggest again this is the opportunity for the industry to show some leadership here."

Mining Tax , Coal Seam Gas

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Your Comments

Farmer

Jason - from Foster, 2 years ago

Tony Windsors electorate is a Conservative electorate. In the last election the National Party candidate was second behind Independent candidate Tony Windsor. Labour was the least preferred for the electorate. The obvious question is why did Tony Windsor then back the Labour government against the will of his electorate??? Because by backing Labour the previously unknown Windsor puts himself in the spotlight for the next 3 years..... Why does Tony Windsor want to insist on having irrelevant Tax forums and provide his comments on CSG and Mining taxes..... because it puts him in the spotlight. Good on you Tony, it's all about you!!

Stop Poisoning our Country with Coal Seam Gas

Tanya - from Denmark WA, 2 years ago

Please stop and really look at what coal seam gas & fracking are doing to our beautiful country, ground water, cattle, farmers & rural communities before it is AGAIN too late to reverse the extradionary depth of damage that we are doing! This is a worldwide problem that & it is scary!

Good on Tony Windsor

Beth Shelley - from Lismore, 2 years ago

The two Tonys are so different aren't they? You don't find Tony Abbott caring about the farmers, water or food security. He's much too busy playing self-promotion games in his policy free zone. Tony Windsor is the best kind of politician who actually cares about the people of Australia and the land. The National party don't care any more. They trail uselessly after the Liberal party while waiting to get their new jobs as lobbyists for the coal seam gas industry. Good on you Tony WIndsor

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