Afternoon Update: mining industry’s windfall tax threat; Victoria’s messy politics; and a Christmas gift guide

Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable has issued a threat to campaign against ‘bad policies’. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

It’s déjà vu with the mining lobby using scare tactics to ward off taxes. The lobby is threatening to unleash an ad campaign if the Labor government refuses to rule out a windfall tax on super profits, in a warning harking back to the mining tax ads against the Rudd government.

The UN, leading economists and unions have been calling on governments to impose a windfall tax on surging profits of fossil fuel companies caused by inflation and the Ukraine war. US president Joe Biden last month threatened to impose such a tax, while the UK has already gone ahead and introduced the measure. The Albanese government says it’s still considering options.