Sydney, 5 July 2010

Australia's government may make more concessions on its mining tax to iron ore miners after a meeting with miners on Monday, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia said on Monday. Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has agreed to consider requests to provide tax rebates for exploration costs and to exempt the burgeoning magnetite sector from the tax, the chamber's chief executive, Reg Howard-Smith, told Reuters.

"The minister indicated these issues would be included in the terms of reference," establishing parameters for modifying the tax under a government-backed panel, he said.

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