❓ The Minister for Mines and Petroleum responds to a question about the government's support for the critical minerals industry, highlighting federal government investment and criticising the federal opposition's stance. The response focuses on job creation and economic benefits for WA.
AnsweredQoN 327Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CRITICAL MINERALS
PROJECTS
327. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
support for the Western Australian emerging critical minerals industry.
(1) Can the
minister update this house on how this government is supporting the growth of a
strong and vibrant downstream critical minerals processing industry in WA that
is creating thousands of new Western Australian jobs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether he is aware of anyone who does not support
the growth of this important industry?
PROJECTS
327. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
support for the Western Australian emerging critical minerals industry.
(1) Can the
minister update this house on how this government is supporting the growth of a
strong and vibrant downstream critical minerals processing industry in WA that
is creating thousands of new Western Australian jobs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether he is aware of anyone who does not support
the growth of this important industry?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for his question and his continued advocacy for the resources
sector, especially in his great electorate, which contributes so much to the Western
Australian, and indeed, the national, economy.
As we have heard today, the federal
government last night announced a significant boost to jobs, industry and
growth in WA. Through the extension of a production tax credit announced last
night, the federal government has joined the Cook government in continuously
backing our industries and investing in downstream processing of critical
minerals. We are talking about nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese, vanadium and
high-purity alumina, with many more on the critical minerals list. We have a lot
of these minerals in Western Australia. As we know, we have a critical role in
helping the world to decarbonise, and those minerals are essential to that as
the world goes to net zero.
We
welcome this investment into an industry that will shape Australia's
decarbonisation efforts and lead the world to a greener future. Members
would be aware that a recent report commissioned by the Association of Mining
and Exploration Companies along with its colleagues at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy found that a production tax credit for
the downstream processing of critical minerals could add $2.4 billion and 4 220 jobs to the Australian
economy. Further, of all the critical mineral projects considered to be
potential for near-term downstream processing, almost 60 per cent are in Western
Australia, so it is clear that more than half of those jobs will be here in Western
Australia. Of course, the wider implications of this government's
willingness to back industry excels well beyond what we just see here today.
In
late February, in discussions regarding the nickel industry in this place and
in the media, we had calls for a production
tax credit from industry and from the opposition. I note that in Business
News of 19 February, the Leader of the Liberal Party was quoted as
saying, ''We need to see these production tax credits.'' In this place, the Leader of the Opposition questioned
the Premier about what we were doing to ensure that the federal
government came through with production tax credits for the resources industry
here in Western Australia. I got home last night after sitting a little bit
late and was having two-minute noodles on the couch with the cats, and to my
surprise I saw Angus Taylor from the federal Liberal opposition on TV slamming
the production tax credits and saying that the Liberal Party does not support
them.
Mr D.A. Templeman : I bet that
put you off you your noodles!
Mr D.R. MICHAEL : It did!
Ms R. Saffioti : What flavour?
Mr D.R. MICHAEL : Chicken! It
is all right, I cleared it, and so the food was fine!
Then this morning we saw a sustained
attack from Angus Taylor, Peter Dutton and other members from the federal coalition, as we have heard. I cannot believe it.
I really ask the Leader of the Opposition—I know the National Party is separate from time to time—to get on the phone to Mr Littleproud to
make sure the Nationals back Western Australia in the federal Parliament. To my
friend the Leader of the Liberal Party: I hope she has rung the federal opposition leader to tell him he has got
it wrong and to stop hating Western Australia. They openly admit that they are not listening to industry, especially the great peak bodies we have in
Western Australia and some of those great mining resources companies.
This is what industry has called out
for to ensure WA can realise it has potential as a hub for the critical
minerals industry and as a home for jobs in broader economic development,
creating thousands more jobs and pouring billions of dollars back into the
economy. As I said, the federal Liberal–National coalition continues
its anti-WA ideology. We will continue to oppose that and back these great
announcements from the federal Labor government. I thank AMEC and CME for their
ongoing advocacy on behalf of WA's mining sector and their willingness
to back Western Australian jobs, as well as our excellent federal Minister for
Resources, Minister King. I know that has
gone a long way to developing this plan, which has been great. At the end of
the day, as the Premier said, the biggest threat we have in Western Australia
is Peter Dutton—anti–our GST deal, anti–our state. On
this issue he is a bit like Mr Burns: he does not like giving workers
pay and conditions and all he talks about is nuclear power plants!
thank the member for his question and his continued advocacy for the resources
sector, especially in his great electorate, which contributes so much to the Western
Australian, and indeed, the national, economy.
As we have heard today, the federal
government last night announced a significant boost to jobs, industry and
growth in WA. Through the extension of a production tax credit announced last
night, the federal government has joined the Cook government in continuously
backing our industries and investing in downstream processing of critical
minerals. We are talking about nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese, vanadium and
high-purity alumina, with many more on the critical minerals list. We have a lot
of these minerals in Western Australia. As we know, we have a critical role in
helping the world to decarbonise, and those minerals are essential to that as
the world goes to net zero.
We
welcome this investment into an industry that will shape Australia's
decarbonisation efforts and lead the world to a greener future. Members
would be aware that a recent report commissioned by the Association of Mining
and Exploration Companies along with its colleagues at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy found that a production tax credit for
the downstream processing of critical minerals could add $2.4 billion and 4 220 jobs to the Australian
economy. Further, of all the critical mineral projects considered to be
potential for near-term downstream processing, almost 60 per cent are in Western
Australia, so it is clear that more than half of those jobs will be here in Western
Australia. Of course, the wider implications of this government's
willingness to back industry excels well beyond what we just see here today.
In
late February, in discussions regarding the nickel industry in this place and
in the media, we had calls for a production
tax credit from industry and from the opposition. I note that in Business
News of 19 February, the Leader of the Liberal Party was quoted as
saying, ''We need to see these production tax credits.'' In this place, the Leader of the Opposition questioned
the Premier about what we were doing to ensure that the federal
government came through with production tax credits for the resources industry
here in Western Australia. I got home last night after sitting a little bit
late and was having two-minute noodles on the couch with the cats, and to my
surprise I saw Angus Taylor from the federal Liberal opposition on TV slamming
the production tax credits and saying that the Liberal Party does not support
them.
Mr D.A. Templeman : I bet that
put you off you your noodles!
Mr D.R. MICHAEL : It did!
Ms R. Saffioti : What flavour?
Mr D.R. MICHAEL : Chicken! It
is all right, I cleared it, and so the food was fine!
Then this morning we saw a sustained
attack from Angus Taylor, Peter Dutton and other members from the federal coalition, as we have heard. I cannot believe it.
I really ask the Leader of the Opposition—I know the National Party is separate from time to time—to get on the phone to Mr Littleproud to
make sure the Nationals back Western Australia in the federal Parliament. To my
friend the Leader of the Liberal Party: I hope she has rung the federal opposition leader to tell him he has got
it wrong and to stop hating Western Australia. They openly admit that they are not listening to industry, especially the great peak bodies we have in
Western Australia and some of those great mining resources companies.
This is what industry has called out
for to ensure WA can realise it has potential as a hub for the critical
minerals industry and as a home for jobs in broader economic development,
creating thousands more jobs and pouring billions of dollars back into the
economy. As I said, the federal Liberal–National coalition continues
its anti-WA ideology. We will continue to oppose that and back these great
announcements from the federal Labor government. I thank AMEC and CME for their
ongoing advocacy on behalf of WA's mining sector and their willingness
to back Western Australian jobs, as well as our excellent federal Minister for
Resources, Minister King. I know that has
gone a long way to developing this plan, which has been great. At the end of
the day, as the Premier said, the biggest threat we have in Western Australia
is Peter Dutton—anti–our GST deal, anti–our state. On
this issue he is a bit like Mr Burns: he does not like giving workers
pay and conditions and all he talks about is nuclear power plants!
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