WESTERN AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

WA digs deeper on BHP royalties

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Original article by Ben Butler
The Australian – Page: 15 & 16 : 22-Jan-19

Western Australia’s Treasurer Ben Wyatt says the state government will pursue BHP for backdated iron ore royalties totalling between $200m and $300m. He claims that an audit undertaken in 2016 had revealed that the resources group had underpaid royalties since the early 2000s. BHP had reached a $529m settlement with the Australian Taxation Office regarding its Singapore marketing hub in November 2018.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND

Fracking decision a blow to Forrest

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Original article by Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 22 : 28-Nov-18

Western Australia’s Premier Mark McGowan announced new hydraulic fracturing regulations on 27 November, following a review. He said that fracking will not be allowed in 98 per cent of the state, even though the review had found the risks associated with it are "low and manageable". Some of the licences held by a joint venture between Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy and Goshawk Energy will be impacted by the new regulations. Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association CEO Malcolm Roberts says it would have been preferable if the moratorium on fracking had been removed across the whole state.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, SQUADRON ENERGY, GOSHAWK ENERGY PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED, BEACH ENERGY LIMITED – ASX BPT, BURU ENERGY LIMITED – ASX BRU, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION

WA Treasurer puts asset sales on hold

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 11-May-18

The Western Australian Government’s May 2018 Budget has forecast a deficit of $A1.3bn for 2017-18, while it expects to deliver a $A572m surplus in 2020-21. The Budget papers also show that the state’s net debt is forecast to be $A39.1bn in 2018-19 and $A40.85bn in 2019-20, with Premier Mark McGowan reiterating that the government will reduce debt gradually. Meanwhile, Budget measures are expected to result in the average household paying an extra $A292 in government fees and charges in 2018-19.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, WESTERN POWER CORPORATION, LANDGATE, TOTALIZATOR AGENCY BOARD (WESTERN AUSTRALIA), INVESTEC AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. COMMONWEALTH GRANTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

Nahan buries ALP’s $400m gold grab

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Original article by Andrew Burrell
The Australian – Page: 5 : 11-Oct-17

Western Australia’s Opposition Leader Mike Nahan says the State Government’s proposed increased in the gold royalty was aimed at funding its election promises rather than budget repair. The 50 per cent royalty increase faces defeat in the upper house after Liberal Party MP voted to block the bill, which had already been rejected by the National Party and crossbenchers. The mining industry had also opposed the royalty increase, warning that it would result in widespread job losses.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, ONE NATION PARTY, THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE

Gold royalty hike would ‘wipe profits’

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 5-Oct-17

Newcrest Mining CEO Sandeep Biwas says the Western Australian Government’s proposed increase in the gold royalty has already affected the state’s reputation as an investment destination. He says companies such as Newcrest may opt to redirect investment elsewhere if the royalty hike makes their WA operations uneconomic. Northern Star Resources chairman Bill Beament, Gold Fields CEO Nick Holland and AngloGold Ashanti Australia executive Mike Erickson have expressed similar concerns.

CORPORATES
NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, GOLD FIELDS LIMITED, ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI LIMITED – ASX AGG, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Libs may back gold royalty rise

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Original article by Andrew Burrell
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 4-Oct-17

The Western Australian Government will require the Liberal Party’s support to increase the gold royalty from 2.5 per cent to 3.75 per cent. Opposition Leader Mike Nahan says the gold industry will need to present a strong case to persuade him to reject the royalty hike. He adds that the Liberal Party would be reluctant to block a money bill. Newcrest Mining CEO Sandeep Biswas is among the industry executives to have lobbied both major political parties.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Gold royalty rise to cost 3000 jobs: lobby

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Original article by Andrew Burrell
The Australian – Page: 6 : 3-Oct-17

Economic modelling by the Chamber of Minerals & Energy of Western Australia highlights the potential impact of the State Government’s proposal to increase the gold royalty from 2.5 per cent to 3.75 per cent. The modelling, which is based on 27 gold mines, suggests that the royalty hike would reduce the gold sector’s cash flow by about $A125m a year and cost up to 3,000 jobs. Saracen Mineral Holdings Raleigh Finlayson notes that a further 2,000 direct jobs would be lost if the gold price fell to $A1,400 per tonne.

CORPORATES
THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, SARACEN MINERAL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SAR, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, MACQUARIE RESEARCH EQUITIES, SILVER LAKE RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX SLR, BLACKHAM RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX BLK, WESTGOLD RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX WGX

Gold industry rallies against WA royalty hike

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 19-Sep-17

The Chamber of Minerals & Energy of Western Australia has launched a "grassroots" campaign against the State Government’s proposed increase in the gold royalty rate. Social media will be the initial focus of the campaign, although the CME has not ruled out extending it to include radio advertising. As part of the campaign, about 1,500 employers of gold mining companies have held a rally in Kalgoorlie. Meanwhile, Treasurer Ben Wyatt has downplayed the gold industry’s concerns about the potential impact of the royalty increase on the sector.

CORPORATES
THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, SARACEN MINERAL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SAR, GOLD FIELDS LIMITED, ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI LIMITED – ASX AGG, SILVER LAKE RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX SLR, AUSDRILL LIMITED – ASX ASL, MACMAHON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MAH, DDH1 DRILLING PTY LTD, BYRNECUT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ASSOCIATION OF MINING AND EXPLORATION COMPANIES, LIBERAL PARTY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Flower power: state blocks iron ore projects

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 27 : 29-Jun-17

Minerals Resources remains hopeful that its J5-Bungalbin East iron ore project will be approved by Western Australia’s Environment Minster, Stephen Dawson. The state’s Environmental Protection Authority has recommended that both J5-Bungalbin East and Sinosteel’s Blue Hills project should be blocked, citing their likely impact on rare wildflowers and microscopic subterranean prawns. The Wilderness Society notes that the EPA has ruled against the projects twice in the last two years.

CORPORATES
MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, SINOSTEEL CORPORATION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY WA INCORPORATED, THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Timely break for Atlas, MinRes

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 31 : 23-Jun-17

A six-month extension of the discount on the fees paid by mining companies to use Port Hedland’s Utah Point berth will result in cost savings of about $A12.5m for both Atlas Iron and Mineral Resources. The discount of $A2.50 per tonne had been slated to end in June. However, BHP Billiton faces increased costs of about $A9m a year after the Western Australian Government announced that fees at most ports in the Pilbara will increase. The cost to Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group will be around $A13m and $A6.8m respectively.

CORPORATES
ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TRANSPORT, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA