The Federal Government’s super tax on resource companies is a tax on every Australian, according to The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams.

Senator Williams said people should not be fooled into believing the Prime Minister is robbing the rich to give to the poor because if the tax goes ahead, many Australians will be poorer for it.

He has cited the case of Unimin Lime which has a plant at Attunga near Tamworth.

“Unimin, which employs more than 30 people at Attunga, will have an effective tax rate of 55 percent.

The company distributes lime and limestone which is used in products including aggregate and asphalt used in road bases, steel and agricultural lime.

To remain profitable and protect its investment, Unimin would have to seriously consider increasing its prices for these raw materials, and the end users such as fertilizer companies, steelmakers, and local councils would no doubt pass on that cost in their charges.

That means we all pay.

Macquarie Generation which is Australia’s largest electricity generator will probably have to pay more for its coal, and down the line that would lead to consumers paying more for their electricity.

Many superannuation funds have resource stocks in their portfolio, and they will take a hit.

It is just not the big miners like BHP and Rio Tinto that the Rudd Government will slug with this 40 percent tax, but the smaller quarries and companies are also in its sights.

If Mr. Rudd had not been so wasteful on programs like the home insulation and the Building the Education Revolution, this super tax on all Australians would not be necessary.

The Nationals in Coalition will oppose it until it is defeated”, Senator Williams said.