Crook welcomes Royalty decision
Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 22-April-2010
The Nationals candidate for O’Connor Tony Crook has welcomed Premier Colin Barnett’s announcement that the gold royalty rates will not be increased in this year’s Budget.
Mr Crook said the declaration, made yesterday in Parliament, will be a relief to many in the gold industry.
“There have been fears that a royalty rise would hurt the viability of smaller Goldfields companies,” Mr Crook said.
“So I am very pleased to hear this news.”
Mr Crook lobbied state politicians on the issue at last weekend’s State Council meeting in Perth, saying hat with many producers just getting back on their feet following the Global Financial Crisis and junior companies looking to get started, that it would be a very poor move by Government to increase the Royalty at this time.
“The WA Government currently receives significant royalties and thanks to the Nationals WA Royalties for Regions program, 25 per cent of this is distributed to the regions,” Mr Crook said.
“Mining companies make a massive contribution to the WA and Australian economy and every effort should be made to keep it that way.
“Any increase at this time would have been very unwise, so I welcome this announcement by the Premier.”
