Powerful Greens to up mining ante

With the Greens set to have the balance of power in the Senate, the party has released a report which finds 83% of Australian mining firms are foreign-owned.

Greens leader Bob Brown will give a national address today to spell out his party's agenda, with tough terms for the mining tax proposed.

He'll talk about how the party will gain a "green dividend" from the current minority government.

In a speech to the National Press Club, Senator Brown is expected to discuss how the Greens will use the balance of power to benefit Australians in the short and long-term.

A private report on the mining industry has been prepared by firm Naomi Edwards for the Greens, the Canberra Times reports.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Brown will argue that 83 per cent of Australian mining companies are foreign owned.

'Amid a mining boom, while the Federal Government faces budget pressures and as the Reserve Bank prepares to raise interest rates, parts of the economy are wallowing,' Senator Brown said.

The Greens helped deliver government to Labor after the 2010 election and will hold the balance of power in the Senate from July 1.

It predicts that $50 billion from the current mining boom will end up overseas in the form of dividends to foreign owners in the coming five years, the Times said

The 66-year-old former GP from Tasmania will lead a team of nine senators and one House of Representatives member.

In a speech to the National Press Club, Senator Brown is expected to discuss how the Greens will use