Mining companies team up with big tobacco for new adverts

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC), representing the interests of small and medium-size mining companies, has resumed advertising critical of the federal government's new mining tax. Chief executive Simon Bennison explains:

The Prime Minister said that the Government was going to open the doors to the mining industry and asked the industry to do the same," Mr Bennison said.

However, all that has happened is a secret deal has been done with three multi-national mining companies, to the exclusion of 99 per cent of the industry, with the result that only a two-page document has been produced which lists the general principles for a new mining tax.

The video advert – watchable here – leaves AMEC open to accusations of links to big tobacco: at one point in the video the shuttered shelves hiding deadly cigarettes are clearly visible in the background. For shame.