The Wire

The Federal government is looking to make a strong end to the parliamentary year by passing the Mining Resources Rent Tax during its final week of sitting. The legislation’s successful passage has hinged on the support of federal Independent MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, who today both backed the tax.

Windsor’s support was conditional on, among other things, an agreement by the Federal Government to use part of the revenue from the tax to fund research into the impact of coal seam gas development on regional water catchments. The announcement has been welcomed by scientists and farmers, but questions have been raised on how the ‘independence’ of the research can be ensured.