Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown welcomed the International Monetary Fund’s call today for the Government to consider expanding the watered-down mining tax.

“The economic recovery is uneven and options available to the Government include broadening the coverage of the minerals resource rent tax beyond coal and iron ore, as the IMF so clearly states,” Senator Brown said.

“A broader mining tax with revenue directed into a sovereign wealth fund would enable long-term funding for clean energy, health care for an ageing population and key infrastructure including high-speed rail.”

Senator Brown also welcomed the IMF’s endorsement of Greens initiatives – carbon pricing and the Parliamentary Budget Office.