The mining tax may not be as unpopular as Tony Abbott would have us believe

Australian Opposition leader Tony Abbott on the subject of the Mineral Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) - also known as the mining tax:

2011 we will be opposing this tax in opposition and we will be rescinding it in government should we get the chance

2012 What I can and must say is if we are elected we'll do the right thing by Australia and get rid of this bad tax

2013 We think that this is a bad tax

If one believes Tony Abbott’s media grabs, this super profits tax should be very unpopular with the Australian public.

However, the Essential Report for 4 March 2013 clearly shows that 50 per cent of those surveyed are in favour of retaining this tax and 29 per cent would like to see the tax amended so that it raised more money from the mining industry. Only 28 per cent thought the tax should be removed altogether.

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