Latest news with #MineralsCouncilofAustralia
West Australian
20-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Big miners accuse union of ‘bully tactics' as Pilbara wage fight continues
WA's big miners are crying foul over union claims they have breached Labor's 'same job, same pay' laws before a ruling has been made in the State. The Minerals Council of Australia has lodged a formal complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman, accusing the Electrical Trades Union of making 'clearly false', and potentially unlawful, representations to workers as it tries to gain a foothold in the Pilbara. Unions won a test case against BHP in the Fair Work Commission two weeks ago to enforce 'same job, same pay' laws on a coal mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin, adding $66 million to the mining giant's wages bill. But though no applications have been successful in WA, the ETU was threatening legal action against sub-contractors in the State as far back as April. In one email sent to multiple labour hire companies obtained by The West Australian, north-west organiser Kevin O'Donnell warned a company it was 'in breach' of the new legislation. The controversial laws — which received fierce opposition from the resources sector — aim to ensure that labour hire workers receive the same pay and conditions as directly employed staff if the Fair Work Commission rules that they're performing equivalent work. 'The ETU will vigorously defend members pay and conditions and use the full force of our legal team to do so if need be,' the ETU email said. The Minerals Council of Australia has now made a formal complaint, arguing those emails breach Section 345 of the Fair Work Act that prohibits 'knowingly or recklessly' making a 'false or misleading' representation about workplace rights. Minerals Council chief executive Tania Constable said the union was attempting to pressure companies into submission. 'This is further evidence of some unions misusing the vast new powers within the legislation to bully their way into the Pilbara,' she said. 'This has nothing to do with workers or wages, it is solely about expanding union power. 'The actions of the ETA in blatantly misrepresenting the law shows the lengths that certain unions will go to in order to abuse such powers.' ETU state secretary Adam Woodage was yet to receive a copy of the complaint on Sunday but said the union won't back down. 'It's extremely disappointing that the MCA has made no effort to contact the ETU or myself directly,' he said. 'It speaks volumes of their attitude towards workers and their unions that represent them. 'The MCA needs to learn we aren't going away and will continue to advocate and defend our members interests.' The ETU has recently filed applications urging the Fair Work Commission to enforce 'same job, same pay' on Chevron's Barrow Island LNG facility, and accused the American-owned oil company of 'playing contractors off against one another'. If successful, sub-contractors Ventia could be forced to increase maintenance wages by $80,000 per year.
AU Financial Review
28-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Victorian government to increase mining fees by 234pc
The mining industry warns it will pull back on investment in Victoria after a proposal to ramp up fees and charges imposed on the sector by 234 per cent, which the government claims is necessary to cover regulatory costs. James Sorahan, the Victorian head of the Minerals Council of Australia, said that the state already charged the highest exploration licence application fee of any state or territory, despite it consistently ranking as the worst state for mining regulation efficiency.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Running out': Mining boss' warning to Aus
Mining industry boss Andrew Michelmore has taken aim at Victoria as a 'warning for the rest of Australia,' lashing the state for being 'blissfully unaware' of its energy challenges. The Minerals Council of Australia chair used a key address to the Melbourne Mining Club to warn that Australia is losing overseas investment into its mining operations, when it should be safeguarding its lucrative resource sectors amid global uncertainty. He also urged governments to learn from Victoria's backflip on gas, which has left the state with a looming energy shortfall. Mr Michelmore argued that instead of firming up a gas pipeline, it relied on the now diminished Bass Strait gas pipeline and now needs to seek gas from overseas sources. 'The state seems blissfully unaware of the rapid decline of its foundational energy strengths,' he said, highlighting the 'stalled progress' of offshore wind, solar, wind and transmissions projects. 'And after discouraging gas development for over a decade, Victoria is now pushing for expensive LNG import terminals and seeking costly gas from northern states — when it could have developed its own supply. 'This is a warning for the rest of Australia.' Mr Michelmore also said the weaponisation of tariffs and the United State's growing economic nationalism should be an 'urgent call to action' to ensure 'Australia remains the supplier of choice for key markets'. Overseas investment from OECD sources has fallen from an aggregate of 'US$50 billion in 2013 to just US$7.5 billion in 2022,' with only one in 20 major resource projects progressing from the feasibility tests to the final investment decision each year. He said there was a 'perception' that Australia was too risky a place for investors, which would hurt future opportunities. 'On a recent trip overseas, I met with a global investor who put it bluntly: 'Why would we look to invest in Australia right now? Your energy costs are too high, your construction costs are out of control, productivity is going backwards, and your regulatory environment is unpredictable. It's not worth it,'' he said. 'That is the perception we are up against.' Mr Michelmore's speech comes as Peter Dutton promised to fast-track the assessment of Woodside's $30bn extension of the North West Shelf gas project within 30 days of a new Coalition government. Currently the federal sign off has been delayed until March 31, with the impact of the election likely delaying the announcement until after the polls. The project would extend the lifespan of the Burrup Peninsula Karratha plant by 50 years until 2070, and allow development for three new gas fields through a 900km pipeline. Mr Dutton said he was 'seeking a mandate' from Australians, and 'in particular from the people of Western Australia'. 'We would expedite consideration of the North West Shelf project as a matter of urgency because, unlike Labor, we recognise the significance of the North West Shelf to the WA economy and the importance of secure and reliable gas supplies in pushing down energy prices,' Mr Dutton said. Anthony Albanese criticised the policy as a 'thought bubble without the thought'. 'They just come up with these things, then they walk away from them, whether it's referendums, whether it be zonal taxation rates, whether it be the other statements that Peter Dutton makes,' he said. 'They need to start getting serious about policy.' Sign in to access your portfolio
