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Yes they have contributed significantly to the gov coffers, but I recall someone quoteing figures that these company profits (much going overseas) have increased exponentially more over recent years than the Aus tax take.

I'd suggest past and arguably current corruption allegations in WA and now Qld where the states collect the mineral royalties and big political donations from the big miners for political favors re mineral leases and developments, that they have left their very fat pork bellies very exposed for someone like Rudd to corner them for a feast of his own.

Not justifying one way or other, but they have made themselves a very conspicious increased tax target.

Taking the devils advocate position, maybe they'll spend more on exploration and development now to develop more projects as opposed to 'cherry picking' the most cost effective prospects they want to develop and useing their monolopy to just sit on many others until they get a sale price they demand or eventually relinquish, forcing big delays or preventing smaller and even private operators getting in on the act.