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.
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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."
