and now a little diversion from Australia for our friends elsewhere.
Our federal government, like some others, loves to spend.
Tax revenue cannot keep up so how about a nice new tax?
Let us call it a resources tax and apply it only to the mining industry.

Side note- some of our states and territories have/had manufacturing industry, other rely on government jobs, other on basket weaving, one or two are going fairly well on big mining projects exporting to China. There are constitutional issues with a tax which is blatantly discriminatory between states.

Anyway, the gov negotiated with 2 or 3 of the biggest miners and brought in the new tax.
The result after one year is that the income from the new tax is about zero.
Well, about 12% of what was expected.
Question. Is the correct Randist response
Good. It will reduce the deficit?
Bad. So little money?
Correct answer: ROFL

Ok so while I am enjoying myself here is another side note.
The low tax collections will balance with all those government projects that have come in under budget!
The list of these is .
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