Royalties should not belong either to the federal or state governments - royalties should belong to the land-owners, whatever they charge IF they agree to the intrusion on their land in the first place.

I am aware that currently farmers do not own what's under their land, so that should change by offering them to purchase it, with price based on average mineral-value expectations in their region (if unexplored, or according to actual findings if already explored).

Whether the purchase-money should go to the state or federal governments is an interesting question - any ideas?

The bottom line is, that people on the land should feel safe that no intruders may come without their consent, dig up their land and ruin their privacy, lifestyle and health.

Luciferase, the mining tax is a typical example of government being outsmarted by big business, as the miners are now using up a combined (reported) 1.7 billion in tax credits, rather than paying the tax.

In any case I am opposed to the tax being for all Australians, my argument being, that if all Australians wish to share in the states mineral taxes, then all state taxes should be combined and spread equally, otherwise it is simply unfair to take from others but give nothing in return.

An example being the median house prices in say Melbourne and Sydney, compared to say Brisbane and Cains, as all raise stamp duty when sold, but these duties are not shared, or more so, Queenslanders don't get a top up from the wealthier states when it comes to these taxes.

As for any changes prior to the election, not a chance as the last thing labor wants is to wake the sleeping dog. (the big miners) but I think they may be too late already.

I constantly wounder how much of or views, and the actions of both sides of politics, federal and state.
Forget the common good.
I can not believe the thought land owners are the ones who should benefit from Royalty's not the nation.
And in truth can not except, under any form of government, only rich states owners? of the minerals should prosper .
Australia surely is one nation not different states wanting to take from the nation but not share.
If mining tax had not been fought over by politicians, miners may well have not forced Gillards cave in.

Dear Belly,

<<I can not believe the thought land owners are the ones who should benefit from Royalty's not the nation.>>

But what you mentioned is only half the deal - first the land owners must BUY the rights to what's under their land. Instead of maybe getting royalties in the future, the state(s)/federation will receive cash in advance.

It is an anomaly that farmers own what's above their land but not what's below. Further, any corporation, including foreign corporations, currently has rights to intrude on private properties, explore, dig and create a toxic environment that makes the owner's life a hell and ultimately drives them out. Put yourself in the farmer's place and imagine those people and machines coming and digging your own front/back yard and under your home without you having a say...

Why is it that anyone else, even foreigners, can buy what's under the farmer's land EXCEPT the farmer herself? The farmer should have the first right to buy it!

Some farmers would buy what's under their land in order to ensure their peace, others may lease it to mining corporations, perhaps charging 90% royalties - take it or leave it, while others still may dig under their own land themselves.

Your so-called "nation" would not lose from the deal because it would receive the royalty-money in advance. Hopefully it will not waste it straight away!

Belly you easily forget the old import duty, & import quotas of not that long ago.

These propped up inefficient Oz industry, mainly in NSW & Vic, with a little around Adelaide. This gave high profits to industry, & paid inflated wages to industrial workers, at a large cost to the rest of Oz.

Most of the country were paying hugely inflated prices for everything manufactured here or abroad for decades, & there was precious little subsidising of the non manufacturing states. Now that manufacturing is dead the same ripoff states have their hand out.

You are sounding like a feminist now Belly. What's mine is mine, & what's yours is ours.

Well mate, it's going to take about 30 years for our roads, particularly in mining areas to come up to the old manufacturing states standard. Try asking for a hand out after that.

"....miners are now using up a combined (reported) 1.7 billion in tax credits, rather than paying the tax."

Just wondering, rechtub, if you know what the breakdown is, i.e. what proportion is royalty offset, start-up concessions for new mines (eg FMG) etc. This 1.7 billion may be a normal offset unrelated to the MRRT arrangement.

There was always going to be a collision between the mining and non-mining states here. There are no changes to the MRRT that could have avoided it.