Australian Mining Tax Changes Rattle BHP and Rio Tinto
The two large Australian mining companies BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are unhappy about the changes being written into the mining tax post-election. This was made evident to the Senate select committee that is investigating the proposed Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) in Melbourne.
The agreement made stated that “all state and territory royalties will be creditable against the resources tax liability”, however the Energy Minister threw this part of the agreement into debate after the August elections.
Mr Martin Ferguson said that any royalty rate increase not scheduled before May 2 this year would not be creditable. The government fears allowing new royalties to be refunded could effectively give states the ability to raise them in the knowledge the federal government will foot the bill.
The chief advisor on government relations for Rio Tinto Mark O’Neill said today that the company would have been reluctant to sign the Heads of Agreement unless it believed that the issue had been resolved.
The agreement had been signed by Ms Gillard, Treasurer Wayne Swan and Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson in July before the elections. The three main mining companies which signed the deal with the government were BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and the Swiss mining giant Xstrata.
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Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.
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