I run a consulting business that carves a reasonable living out of large infrastructure projects as a significant supplement to base office operations.
We just have to be competitive to win those jobs ... I have to use smarts and even a little innovation to lower costs to improve margin ... if I didnt do that, we wouldnt win some projects.
With the Super Tax, Rudd n Swann have taken the soft option of "increasing prices" without having a serioua look at cutting costs, let alone the waste of programs like BER and Insulation as ACB points out.
My wife and I own BHP shares ... and we dont own them for the miniscule dividend ... it is about growth. Said another way, BHP reinvest in more Australian (and global) projects and produce more mining and associated infrastructure and huge "trickle down" benefits in jobs and service businesses ... the benefits probably defy calculation.
So, in the Super Tax what Rudd n Swann are effectively saying is that they can (be trusted to?) (or expected to?) spend BHP's earnings more effectively for Australians than BHP can ... I seriously doubt it.