• Media Release

Reform overdue so Australian minerals industry can invest, grow and support regional Australia

Modern workplace rules, revived tax reform and better environment laws will help the Australian minerals industry to continue to invest and grow with confidence, supporting regional communities and a more prosperous Australia.

Today’s release of The Next Frontier: Australian Mining Policy Priorities outlines policy priorities for 2019 to remove barriers to growth and enable the minerals industry to support regional communities and maintain our comparative advantage in minerals and energy exports.

Key priorities for this year and beyond include:

  • Modernising Australia’s workplace rules to drive productivity gains and national prosperity
  • Ensuring that environmental regulations across jurisdictions are consistent, efficient and effective
  • Continuing to pursue tax reform to encourage additional investment in capital and technology.

Increasing international competition means that substantial and enduring reforms to Australia’s tax and regulatory settings have never been more important.

Flexibility and choice in employment arrangements will ensure that Australia’s highly paid, highly skilled mining workforce will be able to make the most of opportunities created by technology and new ways of working.

Our world-leading Australian minerals companies will not be able to stay ahead of the pack globally with one hand tied behind their back with outdated workplace laws.

Without a modern workplace that delivers an internationally competitive mining sector, jobs and the sustainability of regional and remote communities will be placed at risk.

Our members need streamlined laws which protect our environment while removing duplication and red tape.

Federal and state governments need to work together to reduce unnecessary overlap and delays on projects which cost Australian jobs and handicap the ability of our members to support regional and remote communities.

Mining projects involve high-risk exploration and capital outlays and long lead times from planning to production. Competition for investment from other resource-rich economies is also intense and increasing.

MCA calls on Parliament to ensure tax settings are competitive and retain the Fuel Tax Credit scheme so regional businesses including mining are not unfairly penalised for off road diesel use.

MCA strongly advocates that fringe benefits tax arrangements for workers should not discriminate between types of accommodation in remote locations.

Australia should have strong tax integrity rules that are consistent with OECD best practice.  The treatment of debt to fund investment in Australia should be aligned with OECD measures and should not affect legitimate debt, which is critical for Australia as a capital-importing economy.

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