Miners go after government over tax

The mining industry has stepped up its campaign against the federal government's new mining tax with a national radio and TV advertising blitz launched today.

The government says multinationals like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto pay 13 per cent company tax, and domestic miners pay 17 per cent - well below the 30 per cent rate after deductions.

The Minerals Council of Australia argues the planned 40 per cent levy on super profits will have miners paying the world's highest overall tax rate of 58 per cent.

It comes down to how the numbers are calculated, with the government giving little ground in the escalating war of words with miners and resource-rich states like WA and Queensland.