Hi Hasbeen,
Thanks, I love to start the day with a good laugh.
Cheers,
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

Rehctub, you wrote:

<< The wealth does not belong to Australia, it belongs to the states, more so, it belongs to the towns where the minerals are deposited. >>

Eh?? Surely the wealth DOES belong to Australia, and that means to all Australians, and certainly not to the towns near the deposits or where mining operations occur, nor to the mining companies.

<< Now as for the carbon tax, it's just another money grab and, so long as the tax is paid, by all means keep polluting.>>

Well, it would appear that you are not far wrong there. Pity it isn’t much more substantial so that it does have a significant impact on atmospheric carbon, or more to the point on the development of renewable energy sources and a society that will become largely based on them.

But if it IS a money grab, is that necessarily a bad thing? I mean, the government struggles to gain the revenue necessary to keep all of our services up to scratch. All else being equal, more money in government coffers would mean better roads, education, health, etc… wouldn’t it?

And gaining extra money from a sector which needs to be made more sustainable, thus giving it incentive to do so, seems like a pretty good idea to me.

Laugh till you cry buddy, the planet has decided to show you lot up for what you are.

I see you are still ignoring any argument you don't have an answer for.

Even Germany has woken up, & is cutting subsidies to the renewable fraud.

The carbon tax is a broadening of the taxation base accompanied by reduction in income tax and compensatory measures for exporters . It will incentivize efficient energy usage and the seeking of alternatives to carbon based energy sources. This stuff about Oz going it alone to its own detriment is clap-trap if you understand all this. Furthermore we have a moral obligation to the planet to do so, undiminished by what other countries decide to do in relation to their obligation.

The mining tax is a "super" tax which is market linked, i.e goes up and down with profitability caused by commodity price changes. The states own the resources and charge royalties. The Commonwealth threatens reduction of GST share in line with any further royalty increases to stop undermining its tax. The Commonwealth promises contribution towards infrastructure costs related to mining. I write all this because it is apparent factual misunderstanding by some posters. The resources do not belong to the Commonwealth, but the Commonwealth is playing dirty pool to ensure it gets its cut of the pie.

The only question I have is whether there should be a "super" tax on other industries doing well? Why can't Western Australians get a piece of the tourism pie in Queensland, for example. Does the Great Barrier Reef belong to Queensland or to the Commonwealth? What about the finance industries in NSW and Victoria, and wine in SA and apples and tourism in beautiful Tassy (beauty is an assett, isn't it)? Although the constitution doesn't support it, all Australians feel they have a stake in minerals in the ground, which are consumable, concrete assets, but not other assets. How about a super tax on all industries in all states with natural advantages?

Hasbeen,
Please stop.
It hurts to laugh so hard.
Who would have thought that a dinosaur could be so funny?
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

I really enjoyed listening to *Big Clive Palmer* last night. You get up em mate, great stuff.

I am pro Australian business and would provide them favourable conditions that they may grow and outgrow the need for international companies to be predating upon our assets, notwithstanding the amount of shareholdings Australians have with them.

How it is that we can can make scram jets and HSV's but can't get it better together for Ozzie miners is beyond me. In that regard, my concern about an additional tax in part turns on the overall tax burden and its effect upon the pension/welfare/working poor base?

Notwithstanding the shadow of the ACCC, I am not confident that prices will not go up beyond the proposed compensation and if it happens on mass, the ACCC will be overwhelmed, and here again, how long is that they will have to play with their pencils to get any results?

No, I would prefer to see a tithe at cost from the miners for the benefit of our local manufacturers in materials, to provide a competitive edge to in part to offset the need to compete with a high dollar and against the subsistence slaves of places like China.

Additionally, in terms of foreign investment, I would bring pressure to bare such that if the likes of China do not wish to allow Australian businesses equivalent and equitable access to their local markets, then I would cap ex them out from being able to participate here, and the same goes for the rest of the internationals.

This could could be cap-exed in to maintain supply in the local company growth period, and or alternatively could be tailored to include such things as a reliable share of rare earths, again say in the case of China.