The passage of the mining tax and a multibillion-dollar package to lift the skills of the workforce have been seized by Julia Gillard to try to redefine the economic debate.

The Senate passed the mining tax last night, bringing to an end a saga of almost two years for the government. The embattled Prime Minister said it was now ''a question of who you stand for and what you are prepared to get done on their behalf''.

"We stand for benefiting the many. On that side of the Parliament, they stand for the priviliged few". Credit:Penny Bradfield

''We stand for benefiting the many. On that side of the Parliament, they stand for the privileged few.''

The mining tax, conceived when Kevin Rudd was prime minister, was watered down by Ms Gillard to appease the mineral giants.