THE federal government's mining tax has hit a snag, with two key independents demanding curbs on coal seam gas exploration and hundreds of millions of dollars spent on environmental research programs in return for their support.
With the government to introduce legislation for the minerals resources rent tax tomorrow, Tony Windsor, with the backing of Rob Oakeshott, put his demands to Treasury officials during negotiations yesterday.
Mr Windsor, who holds the NSW seat of New England, told the Herald he had had enough of the methods of coal seam gas companies, which were expanding operations dramatically in NSW and Queensland.
He said rural people in NSW did not trust the environmental assurances the companies gave about the impact of mining on the water tables and arable land.
Sydney Morning Herald
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