TAX NEWS - JUNE 2010

Australia Tax: Mount Isa residents speak out against mining tax, as Gillard goes to Perth

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is fending off a hostile reception in Perth today by claiming many West Australians lost out in the last mining boom.

Ms Gillard says the proposed resources super profits tax would prevent that happening in the future.

"And I've met a lot of Western Australians who didn't see much from the resources boom, who in fact, bore the burdens of rising house prices," she says.

"To those Western Australians, what I would be saying is this is about getting them, and the nation, a fair share."

Ms Gillard will meet with industry leaders in Perth today and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is flying in for more meetings tomorrow.

The proposed tax is the talk of Australia's mining towns.

In Mount Isa, Xstrata's decision to delay developing some mines has left many residents, not just miners, fearful about their futures.

ABC rural reporter Caitlyn Gribbin found they were virtually unanimous in opposing the tax.

"This has thrown a spanner in the works with this new super tax, because everyone's taking it so hard."

"It's strange, there's not a person in town who I haven't met who doesn't have an opinion on this, and my customers are saying 'are you feeling nervous?' I say well, yeah, you are."

"It'd be hard because there'd be less money here as well. And with accommodation and that here in Mount Isa, it's very high, so you really need that extra money to be able to stay here."

"I'd actually have to work more hours to get more money coming in."