Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is to run a gauntlet of mining tax opposition in Perth on Wednesday, with protesters and mining bosses lining up to greet him. Rudd admitted it would be difficult to convince the mining industry of the taxes benefits, adding that he has promised to negotiate the proposal, but not the actual tax rate, with miners. 'We think these consultations (with industry) have been productive,' Rudd told the Fairfax Radio Network. 'But progress will be very difficult.' Hundreds of protesters have been expected to rally outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where the prime minister will give an address to the Perth Press Club. Mining magnate Andrew Forrest, head of Fortescue Metals Group, was expected to join demonstrators from the back of a flatbed truck. Forrest will also meet Rudd privately to discuss the controversial 40 percent tax on resources super profits. The government's controversial resource super profits tax was also likely to dominate discussions when Rudd attends a community cabinet meeting in suburban Como on Wednesday night. Peter Walsh was resources minister when the previous Hawke government introduced the petroleum resources rent tax in 1984, conducting 'extensive consultations' with industry beforehand. Walsh said Rudd could have avoided the public showdown if the government had done the same. The opposition seized on the comments, labeling the lack of consultation a typical Kevin Rudd performance. 'He acts without listening, he acts without thinking,' Liberal backbencher Simon Birmingham told Sky News. Labor front-bencher Chris Bowen stressed that Rudd was doing the hard yards on the tax. Sometimes politicians put short-term interests ahead of long- term interest, Bowen said. 'I don't think anybody can accuse us of doing that in relation to the resource super profits tax because it is not easy politics, it is very hard politics.' Rudd met with BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers in Sydney on Tuesday. A recent opinion poll suggested the Labor party is in danger of losing seats in Western Australia because of the on-going tax debate. 