Australian mineral producers contributed $63 billion to federal, state and territory governments last year, an increase of $21 billion on the previous year, new figures show.

The Minerals Council of Australia released the data as it launched a campaign with the theme; Australia does well when Australian minerals do well.

Chief executive officer Tania Constable said the Ernst & Young Royalty and Company Tax payments report, commissioned by the MCA and released today, showed that in 2021-22 the sector contributed $39 billion in company tax (a third of all company tax paid in Australia) and $24 billion in royalties.

“That total contribution is the equivalent of paying for the entire Medicare scheme or the Childcare subsidy for two years,” she said.

“Minerals have helped propel our economy forward, boosted economic opportunity and freedom, and enabled the governments to invest in the things that really matter: families, communities and vital services like hospitals, schools, childcare, aged care and infrastructure.”

Ms Constable said the minerals industry was clearly paying its fair share of tax.

“Over the 10 years to 2021-22, Australian minerals have contributed 21 percent of Australia’s GDP growth, $295 billion in company tax ($168 billion) and in royalties ($127 billion) underpinning Australian government revenue year in, year out,” she said.

“The record tax and royalty payments come off the back of $389 billion of capital investments the industry made since the start of the mining boom.”

She said Australia was vulnerable to global competition for such investment and government policymaking must be geared to attract a significant proportion of these funds.

“Workplace relations, tax, environment, climate change and energy policies that impose unexpected costs on the mining industry threaten the capital investment that underpins its contribution to the economy and the global efforts to decarbonise,” she said.

“In conjunction with the release of the EY Report, the MCA have initiated a new series of digital advertisements that highlight the benefits of the financial contribution from the minerals industry to the Australian community.

“The advertisements will be expanded in the coming months to help illustrate that Australia does well when the Australian minerals industry does well.”