Member for Central Wheatbelt Mia Davies MLA has said the $2 million advertising campaign funded by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) was peddling mistruths about The Nationals’ plan to generate new revenue for Western Australia.
“We are talking about two of the largest companies operating in WA who have a vested interest in trying to protect their enormous profits at the expense of the public,” she said.
“The 25 cent special lease rental we propose to increase has been in place since the 1960s and has not gone up like other fees, charges and expenses West Australians pay.
“Name another small business or household that’s had the luxury of paying charges and fees at genuine 1960s prices – we’d all have more in our pockets if that was the case!”
Ms Davies said the taxpayers of WA had facilitated a massive expansion of the iron ore sector over the last two decades as well as catering for a population growth of 500,000 during the mining boom.
To accommodate the State’s biggest ever population increase the Government has had to invest in new water and power infrastructure, new hospitals, schools, roads, as well as increasing the numbers of teachers, nurses and police.
“The rental increase will generate $7.2 billion over four years, all of which will stay in WA – there is no truth at all in the claim it goes over east,” she said.
“$7.2 billion is just a small portion of the $100 billion projected profit these companies will make over the same period.
“It will not result in job losses – they are shedding workers right now due to automation and the offshoring of their headquarters in Singapore and they’ve just posted an enormous profit.
“The Nationals are the only political party standing up for the Mums and Dads, small business and pensioners.
“The Liberal Party, Labor, One Nation and the Greens all oppose the mining levy – they think BHP and Rio Tinto shouldn’t have to pay their fair share while everyone else has to.”
For media enquiries please contact Mia Davies on 9622 2871 (Northam office) or 9041 1702 (Merredin office) or email mia.davies@mp.wa.gov.au.
