AMEC has long lamented the lack of detail in the MRRT proposal framed exclusively with mining giants BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.
AMEC member companies exposed to coal and iron ore mining also struggled to factor the MRRT into their figures, with companies running up to eight different financial models given the amount of unknowns.
Launched yesterday to coincide with the Diggers & Dealers forum in Kalgoorlie, AMEC’s campaign consists of television and radio ads that uniformly target all states and capitals, plus regional areas.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you live, this tax will whack you,” AMEC chief executive Simon Bennison said.
“This extra tax on mining is going to cost the jobs of thousands of hard-working Australians.
“It will potentially see the household cost of electricity rise, while the value of superannuation funds will fall. There is no avoiding the disastrous flow-on effects this extra tax on mining will bring.”
Bennison said Diggers & Dealers was a great forum for AMEC members to share their concerns about the mining tax with their colleagues around the country.
“There’s still a great deal of anger that only one per cent of the mining industry was allowed to sign off on a secret deal that is going to badly affect all Australians.”
Other non-mining group are also keen to resist the mining tax, with the Motor Trade Association, the Australian Hotels Association, the Pastoralists and Graziers Association, both the Western Australian and Queensland Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the United Retail Federation on board with AMEC’s campaign.
“This extra tax on mining will be a tax on every business here in Western Australia,” Motor Trade Association CEO Steve Moir said.
“Anyone who suggests that this tax will only affect the resources sector fails to understand not only our economy here in WA, but also the national economy and the importance of a healthy and internationally competitive resources sector to all Australians.
“Every part of our industry will feel the impact of this poorly constituted, ill-conceived piece of tax policy.
“The loss of consumer confidence is already being felt in a number of areas in the automotive industry.”
The ads will run at least until the federal election on August 21, but could go on for longer.
