RIO Tinto Chairman Jan Du Plessis has criticized the Rudd Government's harsh behavior over its proposed mining tax. He said the behavior is misleading.

He also that he is personally grieved over the some of the accusations made by the Government in the debate over the super profits tax resources.

“From the Government's side, some of the statistics that we have been confronted with in recent weeks can only be described as scandalous, totally scandalous,” Mr. du Plessis said in Melbourne.

He added that whether the Government’s conduct is deliberate or it is out of incompetence, but the behavior is certainly dreadful.

The Rudd Government accused Rio of being a foreign Company.

Treasurer Wayne Swan, today, refused to do away with the 6% threshold in the Government’s which will be incorporated in the Government’s resources.

Mr. Swan proclaimed today this proposed tax has been endorsed by 20 leading academicians and economists.

The Treasurer also pointed out at the opposition leader Tony Abbott as he suggested the miners are being given too much tax.

Mr. Abbott said in a radio interview any fair-minded analysis will indicate that the mining companies are heading greater than what they deserve.