Australia : Mining tax committee stacked with uranium interests – WA Senator

Posted bytony servePosted inblog

Mining tax review stacked with uranium industry representatives

MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday November 10, 2010.

The Australian Greens have criticised the Federal Government for stacking its mining tax Policy Transition Group with uranium industry representatives.

The Greens spokesperson for mining, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said four of the nine members of the group are committed supporters of uranium mining.

“Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson, chair of the PTG, is an enthusiastic advocate of uranium mining. Co-chair Don Argus is the former chair of the company developing the world’s largest known uranium deposit, David Klingner is the chair of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd – which operates the notorious Ranger uranium mine and Erica Smyth is a director of Toro and on the board of ANSTO,” said Senator Ludlam. “Is it any wonder the uranium sector is exempt from the proposed mining tax?”

Senator Ludlam said there is no chance of a fair and balanced result emerging from the group.

“The Mineral Resources Rent Tax should be an important part of public revenue at a time when this country is still negotiating the aftershocks of the global economic crisis,” said Senator Ludlam. “We’ve had the Treasurer, Mr Swan, say there will be a ten billion dollar shortfall in the 2010-2011 budget due to the strong Australian dollar, but the government will not consider including uranium mining in the MRRT.”

Senator Ludlam called on the Government to review the composition of the Policy Transition Group to ensure all options for the Mineral Resources Rent Tax are considered in an equitable way.

Published by tony serve

journalist broadcaster and educator, social justice advocate and family man Tony is a journalist, broadcaster and educator based in Perth, Western Australia. Tony's professional background includes senior positions in radio and TV newsrooms and current affairs in Australia, Asia and the Middle East, several tours as Middle East and South East Asia correspondent, and decades of community advocacy at home. Business, community and political leaders at state and federal levels have been ongoing clients for media consulting, with a special range of courses for newsmakers involving "devil's advocate" interviews to practice key performance and crisis management for radio and TV. Tony has been Senior Ambassador for WA Children’s Week for the last two years, judge of the State Youth Media Awards for six years and is committed to making a difference in his local and global communities. While lecturing in media at Murdoch University, Tony was rated in the top 10 per cent of teaching staff ( 2002/03 ) Currently Sessional Lecturer in Radio for Notre Dame Univeristy. Professional clients include police and emergency services in WA, major Australian corporates such as Godfrey Pembroke, and dozens of NGOs as well as groups in child protection and social justice advocacy. Other in-demand services are Master of Ceremonies and compering, keynote speeches on media, mental health and social justice issues, plus voice-overs and digital video productions for broadcast and web.

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