Taxing times ahead for regional Western Australia, Crook

IN THE aftermath of the Gillard Government’s Minerals Resource Rent Tax (Mining Tax) being passed through the House of Representative’s last night, Nationals WA Federal Member for O’Connor Tony Crook MP has issued a warning to regional Western Australia.

“This anti-Western Australian tax will cost jobs and damage regional development,” Mr Crook said.

Mr Crook condemned the Gillard Government for pressing ahead with the Mining Tax without consulting with the WA State Government or the junior mining sector.

In Canberra this week, Mr Crook led the fight to ensure the Mining Tax did not discriminate against junior miners.

“Through consultation with the resources industry, I developed a series of amendments designed to make the Mining Tax a fair and equitable tax,” Mr Crook said.

“I’m very disappointed that I was unable to gain support for my amendments from members of the Crossbench.”

Mr Crook said he was disappointed with the closed-door attitude of Treasury throughout negotiations.

“Not only would Treasury not provide costings for my amendments, they were barely able to provide costings for their own Mining Tax.”

Mr Crook also hit-out at the Gillard Government for negotiating privately with The Greens and Independent MPs Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Andrew Wilkie to ensure passage of the tax.

“Instead of fair and open consultation with industry, the Gillard Government has struck private deals to appease The Greens and Independent MPs.”

Mr Crook said the people of WA should be particularly concerned by the deal struck between Rob Oakeshott and the Gillard Government to further erode State rights through the GST review.

“The Gillard Government has clearly forgotten that resources belong to the State and the people of the State. This deal with Mr Oakeshott will further erode State revenue and State rights.”

Mr Crook said this move would only further harm WA’s GST returns.