WA Premier Mark McGowan defends iron ore mining ban on green grounds

Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 3-Jan-18

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has banned Mineral Resources from carrying out iron ore mining in the Helena-Aurora Ranges conservation park. Mineral Resources had sought to mine there in order to allow it to extend its Yilgarna operations for a further 15 years. McGowan’s decision puts at risk over 400 jobs, while Mineral Resources has estimated the decision will cost the WA government around $A1 billion in state revenue. Mineral Resources is expected to wind up operations at Yilgarna by the end of 2018, and will try to deploy affected workers elsewhere.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, SINOSTEEL CORPORATION

Even Twiggy should fight this tax on BHP and Rio

Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 9-Aug-16

Western Australia National Party MP Brendon Grylls has proposed imposing a levy on iron ore producers BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. The tax is believed to be $A5 per tonne, which would generate about $A3bn in revenue for the State Government each year. Fortescue Metals Group would benefit from the increase in the break-even price of both BHP and Rio, potentially above that of Fortescue itself. The tax could also prompt BHP and Rio to reduce production in the Pilbara. Although it appears that Fortescue and smaller iron ore miners would be exempt from the proposed tax, this could change.

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