HIGHLIGHTS-Australia, miners strike tax deal

SYDNEY, July 2 (Reuters) - Following are highlights of comments made by Australian miners and government officials on a compromise mining tax agreement.

PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD:

""We were determined to get a fairer share of the mineral wealth in our ground for all Australians. "

"You can work best if you get people around a table and have open, frank discussions."

"We are not suggesting this package will please everybody."

"Today we are seeing what happens when people address difficult questions with the spirit of national respect."

"I can now announce we have reached agreement on the basic structure of minerals taxation for the future."

"There will be no resources super profits tax."

"More than 8 million Australians will benefit from a boost to their superannuation guarantee ... under these revised arrangements we remain on course to return to surplus by 2013."

"It will allow us to move forward together as a nation. It will deliver sustained investment in infrastructure. "

"For business to flourish competitive tax rates are essential."

TREASURER WAYNE SWAN:

"It is a different tax and therefore reduces revenue in a different way. There are swings and roundabouts."

"We have a situation where the larger companies are going to be paying more tax and that needs to be understood. There is a very significant contribution to our national revenue coming from some of the larger companies."

BHP BILLITON, RIO TINTO, XSTRATA

"BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata said today that they are encouraged by the Federal Government's announcement that it proposes to replace the Resource Super Profits Tax with a Mineral Resource Rent Tax (MRRT)."

"The mining industry has consistently stated that any tax reform needs to satisfy core principles that include:"

- ensuring that any new tax is not applied retrospectively, so that existing projects where investment decisions have already been made are not adversely affected; and

- ensuring a competitive effective tax rate that will not disadvantage Australia as an investment destination.

"As a result of constructive discussions, the proposed new tax will apply only to iron ore and coal resources from 1 July 2012.

"The companies agree that the proposal presented by the Government represents very significant progress towards a minerals taxation regime that satisfies the industry's core principles."

"The companies will continue to work constructively with Government to ensure that the detailed design of minerals taxation maintains the international competitiveness of the Australian resources industry into the future." (Reporting by Michael Smith)