Lobbying helped kill Australia iron ore inquiry

SYDNEY: Lobbying by big miners helped kill a proposed Australian Senate inquiry into the iron ore industry after allegations they had colluded to depress prices and drive rivals out of business, the senator who had called for the inquiry said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott publicly threw his support behind the inquiry, but days later pulled back.
Xenophon said that "things unravelled very quickly" after Abbott's initial statement of support. He attributed that change of heart to intensive lobbying by powerful mining figures.