Total gold production in Australia fell by around 2% in the first quarter of the year, according to the latest data of mining consultants Surbiton Associates. Surbiton blamed the latest resource super profits tax for the declined gold output in the quarter.

The gold industry also warned that the super profit tax could encourage many junior gold explorers to look overseas rather than remain in Australia. Surbiton report showed that total gold production in Australia was reported of
1.96 million ounces in the quarter ended March this year, decreasing by 2% while it was reported of 1.92 million ounces in the previous quarter ended December 2009. However, the gold production was reported up by 13% comparing to the same quarter last year.

The gold produced in the March quarter was worth around $A2.8 billion at current prices. The report said that the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie was again reported the biggest gold producer in Australia with total gold production of around 200,000 ounces in the first quarter. Boddington mine of Newmont was reported the second in the list with 158,000 ounces.

The companies which reported major fall in the gold production in March quarter were Barrick and Newcrest. Barrick's Yilgarn South operations reported a fall of 2400 ounces, while Newcrest's Telfer mine reported a decline of
32000 ounces in the March quarter.