BUSINESS AND POLITICS – WESTERN AUSTRALIA

BHP, Rio go on mine tax attack

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Original article by Paige Taylor
The Australian – Page: 5 : 3-Feb-17

The Chamber of Minerals & Energy of Western Australia has defended the mining industry’s advertising campaign targeting the proposed increase in the state’s iron ore levy. A spokesman says the proposal by WA National Party leader Brendan Grylls will reduce investment in the state and cost nearly 3,000 jobs in the Pilbara. Premier Colin Barnett has criticised the advertising campaign, but stresses that the levy will not be increased if the Coalition wins the election on 11 March.

CORPORATES
THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Ralph slams iron ore tax hike

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 13 & 18 : 12-Jan-17

Former mining industry executive John Ralph says Western Australia’s reputation as an investment destination would be severely damaged if an increase in the iron ore levy were to proceed. WA National Party leader Brendan Grylls has proposed to increase the levy paid by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto from $A0.25 per tonne to $A5, although it is opposed by both the Liberal and Labor parties. Ralph is a former CEO and MD of CRA, which subsequently became Rio Tinto. He was working for CRA when the iron ore production levy was introduced in the 1960s.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, CRA LIMITED, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, FOSTER’S GROUP LIMITED

A fair return on WA’s iron ore would help our GST injustice

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Original article by Brendon Grylls
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 47 : 24-Nov-16

Western Australia now receives just $A0.30 of every dollar of goods and services tax revenue that is generated in the state. The proposed increase in the iron ore levy from $A0.25 per tonne to $A5 is intended to redress this imbalance and help reduce the state’s budget deficit. It should be noticed that the levy does not constitute a new tax on BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. It has been in place for five decades and has remained unchanged since. The Samarco tailings dam disaster and the Simandou bribery scandal constitute greater sovereign risks.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIA. COMMONWEALTH GRANTS COMMISSION, VALE SA, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Chaney lashes WA Nats’ iron tax plan

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Original article by Paul Garvey, Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 23 : 11-Nov-16

Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney has criticised a proposal by Western Australian National Party leader Brendon Grylls to increase the state’s iron ore levy. He argues that BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto already make a significant contribution to government revenue from taxes and mining royalties, and the existing arrangement for sharing GST revenue means WA’s income will not rise anyway. He adds that the levy increase would also result in job losses and reduced investment in WA, while Brazil would gain a greater share of iron ore exports at Australia’s expense.

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Grylls ups fight on iron ore tax

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Original article by Andrew Burrell
The Australian – Page: 21 : 19-Oct-16

Western Australian Nationals leader Brendon Grylls claims that parliament can alter the state agreements of Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton without their consent. The state agreements require BHP and Rio to pay a levy of $A0.25 for each ton of iron ore they produce, but Grylls has proposed lifting this to $A5. He also alleges that they have breached the state agreements. A Rio spokesman has warned that future investment in WA and iron ore supply would be jeopardised if the government sought to change the state agreements.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO ALUMINIUM (BELL BAY) LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, NATION AIR, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

Japanese, miners blast WA ‘tax grab’

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Original article by Rick Wallace
The Australian – Page: 22 : 12-Oct-16

A proposed increase in Western Australia’s iron ore levy has been criticised by speakers at a conference organised by the Australia-Japan Business Co-­operation Committee. BHP Billiton executive Arnoud Balhuizen said lifting the levy from $A0.25 per tonne to $A5 would result in job losses and reduced investment in the state. Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metals Corporation’s honorary chairman also expressed concern about the proposal by WA National Party leader Brendon Grylls.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA-JAPAN BUSINESS CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, NIPPON STEEL AND SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP

BHP, Rio spurn WA plan for upfront tax

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Original article by Tess Ingram, Julie-anne Sprague
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 5-Oct-16

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has again ruled out adopting a WA National Party proposal to increase the iron ore levy on BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto from $A0.25 per tonne to $A5. However, Treasurer Mike Nahan has described the levy as an anomaly, and he has held discussions with BHP and Rio regarding alternatives such as an upfront lump-sum payment. Both companies have indicated that they would not support an upfront payment.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, REACHTEL PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

BHP’s Henry slams Grylls over mining tax plan

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Original article by Julie-anne Sprague
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 23-Sep-16

It is estimated that the iron ore levy proposed by Western Australian National Party leader Brendon Grylls would raise about $A1.5bn each year. Grylls wants to increase the state levy from $A0.25 per tonne to $A5. BHP Billiton executive Mike Henry argues that the resources giant already pays a levy of about $A5 per tonne, adding that it paid total taxes of around $A17.50 for each tonne of iron ore it produced in 2015. Henry warns that capital investment and dividends would be affected by Grylls’ proposal.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, REACHTEL PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE

Forrest slams Grylls over tax threat

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Original article by Julie-anne Sprague, Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 10-Aug-16

Fortescue Metals Group founder Andrew Forrest has criticised a proposal by new Western Australian National Party leader Brendan Grylls to impose an iron ore tax on BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. Grylls has proposed changes to state agreements with the two resources giants to increase the levy on iron ore out from $A0.25 per tonne to $A5. Fortescue would not be affected as its state agreement is more recent. Grylls says the levy will not proceed if BHP and Rio successfully lobby the Federal Government to overhaul the system for distributing GST revenue.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA