Will 2012 see an improvement in the quality of public debate? Don’t count on it.
Mining industry
MRRT: a spectacular failure of leadership by all
The MRRT will become law, but it represents a dark chapter in the history of Australian economic reform.
Mining industry surges, but we’re becoming a service economy
While the resources boom creates thousands of mining jobs, it is the services industries that are driving the biggest change in our workforce.
Governments’ failure to regulate is costing mining industry, taxpayers and environment
A failure to sensibly regulate the mining industry is compromising its productivity, the environment — and the electoral fortunes of the Labor government, writes Lionel Elmore, Crikey naturalist.
Political snippets: Gillard off with the fairies to take on ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Pushing aside the nation’s most popular program for a Prime Ministerial address on the carbon tax would have been a sure fire way to lose votes.
podcast Canberra Calling: The WorkChoices reincarnated podcast
This week, Crikey’s Canberra Correspondent Bernard Keane and Crikey editor Sophie Black discuss the return of WorkChoices, Peter Reith’s failed Liberal Party presidency bid and Bob Brown’s report into the foreign ownership of Australia’s mining sector.
‘Selling off the farm’ isn’t the problem for the mining industry
“Selling off the farm” is no longer a metaphor, with a rising tide of complaints about foreign ownership of agricultural land. But the real problem is how multinational companies exploits tax laws.
Budget breakdown: the disease that ate the budget
It is concerning that the plan to return the budget to surplus in 2012-13 is dependent on rising commodity prices and the ongoing expansion of the resource sector, write James Arvanitakis and Alex Surace, fellows at the Centre for Policy Development.
Glencore and the cautionary tale of Zambia
While a transnational company was ripping off Zambia, the mining industry here was claiming it was a model for Australia.
Clive Palmer’s magnificent flying machines
Forget WikiLeaks, Oprah and the Warne-Hurley saga, all eyes are on iorn ore baron Clive Palmer today, after the mining magnate made the surprising announcement yesterday that he was investing in the commercial viability of the Zeppelin.
Life according to Gina: mining magnate brings an axe to Fairfax
Gina Rinehart’s $50 million investment in Fairfax Media would seem to confirm one of the theories regarding her sudden interest in the media sector, and blow up a few others.
The mining stoush: it ain’t over yet
The deal Julia Gillard cut last year with the big three mining companies - BHP, Rio Tinto and Xstrata - is reportedly under threat of unraveling, with the PM and the three companies embroiled in a dispute about whether refund royalties should apply retrospectively.
The Oz has trouble keeping its story straight
According to The Australian, the mining tax will either have too much effect on the mining industry, or not enough. Either way, of course, a partisan Treasury is to blame.
Letter from the miners: boys, what have we done?
The mining industry has scored a big win over the weekend, but there are a couple of little problems in its wake.
Digging the joys of Jabiru, Kakadu
When Ben Hagemann was offered a mining job in the NT, he figured it’d be a nice way to see the Top End. He wasn’t expecting radiation poisoning, drink driving escapades and beautiful rainbow serpent stories.
Business the victim in this (non)policy war
Ten days into the 2010 election campaign the major parties are opening their war chests to woo voters. But both major candidates have so far appeared desperate to highlight their credentials despite being devoid of meaningful policy on important economic or business issues, writes Ian Verrender.
Safety on the docks: stevedores need federal protection
Maritime workers walked off docks shortly after the tragic death of a fellow worker on Wednesday at the Appleton dock, writes Crikey intern and ex-rigger Ben Hagemann.
Turnbull: Cough up the facts, Wayne
Labor’s so-called super profits tax was slashed shortly after Julia Gillard took office. But exactly how much revenue did the government forfeit to please big business? It’s time for Wayne Swan to give us the facts, writes Malcolm Turnbull.
Miners dig the new tax
The government has given the mining industry nearly everything it wants — and dramatically slashed the rate that would have applied under the RSPT.
7 million advertising dollars worth its weight in coal
The mining industry invested at least $7 million in TV and radio advertisements for their PR war against the government’s mining tax. It was money very well spent, says Julian Lee.
Done deal: Gillard’s mining tax compromise
Daily Media Wrap: It was the compromise we had to have, with Julia Gillard announcing this morning the government’s new deal with the mining industry.
Miners ruthlessly slayed Rudd
Corporations shouldn’t control our nation, yet the mining bigwigs played an important part in ousting Kevin Rudd from the prime ministership. Let’s not let it happen again, writes Peter Menadue.
Miners not interested in compromise: coal industry source
While there is speculation of a Government compromise on the RSPT, the mining industry has made clear it doesn’t want any deal, even on the most generous terms, according to a senior coal industry source.
