SYDNEY/PERTH (Reuters) – Australia's mining sector kept the pressure on the government yesterday to scrap a proposed mining tax but signs emerged that a compromise, at least with some players like the coal-seam gas industry, may be near.

Coal-to-retail conglomerate Wesfarmers warned that the 40 percent super profits tax would raise sovereign risk and threaten dividends but British energy group BG Plc described its talks with the government as productive. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said a deal with some was close.

Comments from Rudd and BG added to speculation the government may cut a deal with the fledgling coal-seam gas sector to ensure the forecast A$40 billion ($34.39 billion) of liquefied natural gas projects in Queensland state proceed as planned.

So far, more than $20 billion of new resource investment in Australia has been put on hold by miners because of the tax, due to start in 2012. A deal with at least some miners would be a much-needed boost for Rudd, who is losing voter support rapidly over the tax ahead of elections expected in October.

The fresh war of words failed to stir markets, which have become conditioned to a stream of complaints and warnings from listed miners. Wesfarmers shares closed little changed, in line with the broader market.

Rudd, hoping to resurrect his popularity and quell talk that his Labour Party might dump him ahead of the election, said the government had moved from a consultation phase to a negotiating phase on the new tax and some firms were near an agreement.

"Some of those companies are a long way down the path towards agreement, others are still some distance away," Rudd said.

His comments were in contrast to comments by Wesfarmers chairman Bob Every, who said in a letter to the company's 500,000 shareholders the consultation process with miners should be restarted and the tax completely revamped.

"Any threat to earnings is clearly a threat to the level of dividend we can pay ... our shareholders," Every said.