TABJ - May 24 - Tensions have risen after Australia’s Treasurer Wayne Swan received a grilling from shadow treasurer Joe Hockey over comments made surrounding the budget.

Latest reports state that Swan knew about the WA government considerations on raising mining royalties taxes 13 months before announcements were made in the budget last week—before helping to negotiate mining tax changes.

Opposition leader, Tony Abbott, cited nine separate incidents of “failures to disclose” as the government attempted to gag him. Hockey used seven different questions to ascertain whether Swan had lied when he stated that the Commonwealth knew nothing of the WA government decision on mining taxation. Some reports mention that this relates to a specific type of iron ore class.