❓ A parliamentary exchange reveals tension regarding consultation with the mining industry over potential royalty adjustments. McGowan criticises Barnett's lack of direct consultation, while Barnett defends the decision-making process and cites anecdotal support for royalty increases.
AnsweredQoN 30Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINING INDUSTRY ROYALTIES
I have a supplementary question. The minister said that no decision has been made. What consultation has the minister undertaken with the mining industry in relation to current deliberations? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I have a supplementary question. The minister said that no decision has been made. What consultation has the minister undertaken with the mining industry in relation to current deliberations? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
The mining industry would be aware of media reports — Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
The minister said that no decision has been made. What consultation has the minister undertaken with the mining industry in relation to current deliberations? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: The mining industry would be aware of media reports — Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: The mining industry would be aware of media reports — Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
The mining industry would be aware of media reports — Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
The minister said that no decision has been made. What consultation has the minister undertaken with the mining industry in relation to current deliberations? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: The mining industry would be aware of media reports — Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: The mining industry would be aware of media reports — Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
The mining industry would be aware of media reports — Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Ha! Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It would be, but we are not about to go out and ask the mining companies whether we can adjust royalties. That will be a decision of cabinet. Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr M. McGowan : Not even consulting with them! Not even asking them what they think! Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Several members interjected. Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr M. McGowan : Just the biggest employer in Australia—that’s all—and you wouldn’t even ask them. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The mining companies are aware of it, and some of them have expressed their views. I have to say that a few people who work around the mining industry came up to me over summer and said, “By the way, Colin, the mining companies are getting away with murder; they’re not paying enough.” A number of people working in the mining industry have said that.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.