The Rudd administration is ramming the controversial proposed 40% resource tax on the throat of the mining industry, and announced it would use emergency powers to launch a massive advertising campaign to promote the program.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the statement as the debate between his government and Australia's powerful mining lobby group turned fever pitch over the divisive tax measure.

Australian law permits the government to invoke emergency powers on the basis of national emergency, extreme urgency, or other compelling reasons to engage in a nationwide advertising campaign. The only exception under the campaign advertising guidelines is if the program will be used for party political purposes.

Cabinet Secreary Joe Ludwig said he was advised by Treasurer Wayne Swan to use emergency powers to launch the advertising campaign because some quarters were involved in "an active campaign of misinformation about the proposed changes".

He said in a statement: "As the changes also affect the value of capital assets and impact on financial markets, I am satisfied that a compelling reason for an exemption exists, particularly given the nature and extent of misinformation against a backdrop of continuing market volatility."

The Minerals Council of Australia, the largest mining group in the country, has been placing full page advertisements in major daily newspapers criticizing the new tax measure.