Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

MP’s Call Out Government For Pushing Mines To The Brink

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry, Federal Member for Flynn Colin Boyce and Federal Member for Dawson have called out Labor’s stance on the mining industry for what they say has pushed two Central Queensland mines to the brink.

This is in response to BHP announcing its plans to place two coal mines, Daunia and Blackwater, for sale. The Coalition MP’s claim this decision is off the back of increased pressure the State and Federal Government’s taxes have put on the resource and manufacturing industries, particularly the Queensland Government’s “shock” increase to mining royalties last year.  

Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, stated the announcement from BHP is another indicator of how “out of touch” the Labor party are with what drives Australia’s economy.

“Labor’s determination for taxing our resource sector is another attack on the high-vis workers of Australia and the heavy industries that keep the lights on in our country.

“With cost-of-living already bringing people to their knees, now is not the time to impose legislation to make it harder for families or risk heavy job losses across an industry that has supported Australia to become what it is today,” Ms Landry said.

Federal Member for Flynn said the royalty tax hike has been nothing more than an attack on investment for the resources industry.

“Nearly 92 per cent of metallurgical coal exports came from Queensland in 2021, which means billions of dollars in royalties and taxes to pay for the services we all rely on,” Mr Boyce said.

“We should be thanking our coal miners for the work they do, not threatening to take away their jobs which is now happening under Labor’s introduction of higher taxes on the resources industry.

“In the 2021-22 financial year, the resources industry in Flynn provided a total economic contribution of $17.7 billion of gross regional product and supported over 50,000 local jobs.

“Rather than targeting the resources industry with more taxes, the State Government should be encouraging further investment,” Mr Boyce said.

Comments from the Japanese Ambassador in November last year raised concerns that Japanese investors could reconsider investments in hydrogen and other commodities if they lost confidence in Australia’s coal industry.

Andrew Willcox, Federal Member for Dawson, has said these policies will leave thousands of Queenslanders with job insecurity.

“It is very disappointing that both the Labor State and Federal Governments cannot give our mining and resources industry competitive and predictable policy to encourage Queensland investment. The coal royalties and the carbon tax 2.0 policy changes will leave thousands of Central and Northern Queenslanders in job security limbo,” Mr Willcox said.

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry

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