❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum about the National Party's proposal for a mining tax on iron ore. The Minister avoids directly answering, instead attacking the opposition's past and potential future tax policies.
AnsweredQoN 571Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINING TAX — NATIONAL PARTY PROPOSAL
571. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minster for
Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the proposal by the
minister's partner in government, the Leader of the National Party, to
impose a $5 per tonne tax on iron ore produced by Rio Tinto and BHP.
(1) Does the minister support this
extra mining tax?
(2) Has the minister met with these
companies; and, if so, what did they say to him?
(3) Will this mining tax proposal
encourage investment in the mining sector in Western Australia?
The
SPEAKER : Minister, short answers, thank you.
571. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minster for
Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the proposal by the
minister's partner in government, the Leader of the National Party, to
impose a $5 per tonne tax on iron ore produced by Rio Tinto and BHP.
(1) Does the minister support this
extra mining tax?
(2) Has the minister met with these
companies; and, if so, what did they say to him?
(3) Will this mining tax proposal
encourage investment in the mining sector in Western Australia?
The
SPEAKER : Minister, short answers, thank you.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) It
is an absolute pleasure to hear that question asked by the member for
Cannington, because the member for Cannington would well know that the Liberal —
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : The member for Cannington would well know that the
Liberal–National government does not need to meet with any mining
companies on this issue, because it is an idea. It is not a government policy.
We are not introducing any new tax to the mining industry. That is a fact. Can
I just say, to assist some of the members present, that to change any sort of
tax on a state agreement requires it to go back through the Parliament. It is
quite a detailed process. It would require the two parties to the agreement to
sit down, have a conversation and work out a way forward, and then it would
need to be agreed to by this Parliament. So, I would be curious to know whether
the member for Cannington would be looking to support an increased tax on the
mining sector. Member for Cannington, I ask this question —
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Let me just put this to the member: this
government has said categorically that it will not increase a tax on the mining
community.
Several members interjected.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : The government has said that.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the third time.
I want very short answers, through the Chair. We are running out of time.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
This side of politics is different from that side of politics. This side of
politics does not propose to increase taxes on the mining sector; that side of
politics does. Let me give an example. Where was the Leader of the Opposition
in July 2012 for the mineral resources rent tax debate? Where was the Leader of
the Opposition when we were out there advocating to not increase the tax on
this very important sector? We were fighting hard to fight that tax; members
opposite were not. The Leader of the Opposition was AWOL. Members, can I just
say that when we are talking about increasing taxes on the mining sector, may I
remind everybody to have a look at the ''WA Labor 2015 Platform''.
I refer members to paragraph 159, part (i) —
An incoming Labor Government will
legislate to ensure that there is a requirement for all major resource
companies to contribute to the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund
� (through a training levy) at the construction stage of a project.
Members, this is not a government
that wants to tax the mining sector. That is an opposition that cannot wait to
get its hands on the mining sector, so it can throw any number of taxes at this
wonderful sector of the Western Australian community. The people of Western Australia
are awake to the member for Cannington and they are awake to the Labor Party.
They know perfectly well that all the opposition wants to do is increase taxes,
increase charges and damage the most prosperous, successful and important
employer of people in Western Australia that this side of the house supports.
The Liberal–National government is a friend of the miner; members
opposite are no friend of the miners.
is an absolute pleasure to hear that question asked by the member for
Cannington, because the member for Cannington would well know that the Liberal —
Ms
M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : The member for Cannington would well know that the
Liberal–National government does not need to meet with any mining
companies on this issue, because it is an idea. It is not a government policy.
We are not introducing any new tax to the mining industry. That is a fact. Can
I just say, to assist some of the members present, that to change any sort of
tax on a state agreement requires it to go back through the Parliament. It is
quite a detailed process. It would require the two parties to the agreement to
sit down, have a conversation and work out a way forward, and then it would
need to be agreed to by this Parliament. So, I would be curious to know whether
the member for Cannington would be looking to support an increased tax on the
mining sector. Member for Cannington, I ask this question —
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Let me just put this to the member: this
government has said categorically that it will not increase a tax on the mining
community.
Several members interjected.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : The government has said that.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the third time.
I want very short answers, through the Chair. We are running out of time.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
This side of politics is different from that side of politics. This side of
politics does not propose to increase taxes on the mining sector; that side of
politics does. Let me give an example. Where was the Leader of the Opposition
in July 2012 for the mineral resources rent tax debate? Where was the Leader of
the Opposition when we were out there advocating to not increase the tax on
this very important sector? We were fighting hard to fight that tax; members
opposite were not. The Leader of the Opposition was AWOL. Members, can I just
say that when we are talking about increasing taxes on the mining sector, may I
remind everybody to have a look at the ''WA Labor 2015 Platform''.
I refer members to paragraph 159, part (i) —
An incoming Labor Government will
legislate to ensure that there is a requirement for all major resource
companies to contribute to the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund
� (through a training levy) at the construction stage of a project.
Members, this is not a government
that wants to tax the mining sector. That is an opposition that cannot wait to
get its hands on the mining sector, so it can throw any number of taxes at this
wonderful sector of the Western Australian community. The people of Western Australia
are awake to the member for Cannington and they are awake to the Labor Party.
They know perfectly well that all the opposition wants to do is increase taxes,
increase charges and damage the most prosperous, successful and important
employer of people in Western Australia that this side of the house supports.
The Liberal–National government is a friend of the miner; members
opposite are no friend of the miners.
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