AAP reported that opposition leader Mr Tony Abbott has described the government's mining tax compromise as a fake, amid new data highlighting the riches mining exports are generating.

Mr Abbott has used the surge in dissent to attack the government. He said that what this demonstrates is Ms Julia Gillard's mining tax fix is a fake.

He said that the tax was a threat to investment and jobs around Australia. Quite frankly, the only way to restore Australia's international reputation, which has been damaged by this tax, is to punish the government that was foolish enough to try and introduce it.

Ms Julia Gillard PM of Australia is encouraging mining companies unhappy with the proposed Mineral Resources Rent Tax to take their concerns to a government appointed transition group headed by former BHP Billiton chairman Mr Don Argus and Resources Minister Mr Martin Ferguson.

Ms Gillard said that "My message to Mr Forrest and indeed to the small and medium sized miners is that there is a very clear process here for them to engage in. They'll make their own decisions about what else it is they might want to do but the government does want to hear the problems, does want to engage with them."

Mining magnate Mr Clive Palmer announced that he would rejoin the campaign against the tax, but says he won't help fund it. And miners such as Fortescue Metals boss Mr Andrew Forrest said that they have yet to be properly consulted over the tax, hammered out with mining giants BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

Mr Palmer said that the government had lied about the tax from the start. They did a deal with Xstrata and everyone to make it better and they've reneged on that deal by giving the Greens preferences. And then they're going to say that they'll have to pass the Greens' bill, which is the same as their first bill.

(Sourced from AAP)