Media Releases
Call for New Government to Support Sector
22/08/10
WA’s resource sector has urged the parties that ultimately form government to secure the future of the Australian resource sector and the nation’s long-term prosperity.
Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith said the industry had suffered in recent months, from the uncertainty created by the proposed resource rent tax.
Mr Howard-Smith said it was crucial the new government delivered stability to the sector.
“Maintaining our industry’s international competitiveness will be critical, in ensuring continued investment,” Mr Howard-Smith said.
He said the significant swing against Labor in Queensland and Western Australia could partly be attributed to community concerns about the impact of the proposed resource rent tax.
“A strong resource sector means a strong economy and jobs and opportunities for all – in WA alone, 330,000 people rely on the industry directly or indirectly for employment.
“We urge the parties and MPs who eventually form government to consider the adverse impact of a new tax on the sector’s long-term growth.”
Other priorities include:
Labour supply
- Strengthening skilled migration programs
- Targeted investment in skills and training opportunities for school leavers and the unemployed; and
- Investment and programs aimed at increasing employment participation rates for Indigenous communities and women.
Approvals
- Removing the duplication of processes and reducing the amount of regulation by multiple authorities and regulatory agencies. This includes the re-drafting of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to simplify, streamline and reduce
the duplication of processes under the Act
- Inclusion of social and economic assessments, in conjunction with consideration of environmental and cultural values, in federal land use planning processes, such as the current National Heritage assessment for the Kimberley region.
Climate change
- Ensuring domestic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is calibrated with global efforts and does not compromise the international competitiveness of Australia’s trade exposed industries.
- Promoting joint government and industry efforts to adopt new low carbon technologies.
“When the resource sector grows, the national economy grows – and that means jobs and opportunities for all Australians,” Mr Howard-Smith said.
“Our industry stands ready to work with the government, to develop the policy settings, necessary to deliver long-term prosperity to the nation – and, importantly, certainty to the sector.”
Mr Howard-Smith also called for the new Federal Cabinet to include strong representation from WA-based Members of Parliament.