‘Fleecing the public’: Labor puts corporate giants on notice as Rio Tinto coughs up $1 billion in tax

Labor minister frontbencher Andrew Leigh says Rio Tinto's huge tax bill should serve as a warning to other companies. Photo: AAP

Corporate giants failing to pay their fair share of tax have been put on notice, with assistant minister for Treasury Andrew Leigh warning those “fleecing the public” are in the government’s crosshairs.

Speaking to The New Daily on Thursday, Dr Leigh welcomed the news that the Australian Taxation Office had secured nearly $1 billion in unpaid bills from mining giant Rio Tinto, saying the development should make others think twice.