The government has avoided normal guidelines which require campaign funds be vetted by an independent panel by claiming the advertising blitz is for a national emergency, extreme urgency or other compelling reason.
Treasurer Wayne Swan said the campaign is about clearing up the myths circulated by the big miners on the proposed super profits tax.
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Fortescue released a statement on Friday saying it was disappointed by the government's decision to grant itself a special ministerial exemption.
"The industry's comments do not constitute a national emergency nor an urgent and compelling reason, as required by the exemption provisions," it said.
"If the Federal Government had consulted with industry before imposing this fundamentally flawed tax, the Government would not have needed to spend taxpayer funds on this wasteful advertising campaign."
Fortescue said it fully supported the mining industry's right to "defend" itself against the RSPT.
In the past two weeks, Fortescue boss Andrew Forrest has said he may sell projects worth more than $17 billion that have been put on hold due to the RSPT to foreign firms.
He has warned thousands of jobs would be lost and Chinese investors would flood the market as a result of a change in the regime.
