Canberra - Tensions emerged Wednesday between Australia's deputy prime minister and a kingmaker independent lawmaker over plans to make mining companies pay more taxes, underscoring the fragility of the country's new minority government.

The centre-left Labour Party was returned to power for a second three-year term Tuesday after two final independent lawmakers agreed to back it.

That ended 17 days of intense negotiations following Aug. 21 elections in which no party won a clear majority, but created a government that can be brought down by the defection of a single legislator.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is expected to name a Cabinet this week that includes Kevin Rudd, the prime minister she ousted in an internal party mutiny in June, and might also include Rob Oakeshott, one of the independent kingmakers. Oakeshott has yet to accept the Cabinet job offer.