The national accounts released last week reflect the considerable contribution Australia’s mining sector makes to our economy. While overall economic growth in Australia slowed to 0.2 per cent in the December quarter, the mining industry continued to grow, with its gross value increasing by 1 per cent, according to ABS data. This was largely driven by a 1.9 per cent increase in Australia’s production of iron ore in the quarter.
You’d be used to the phrase ‘red tape’. This is ‘green tape’ to the max! Major new projects and development will be ground to a halt or be forced just to pay up. It’ll mean more lawyers, more court challenges, more power to the opponents – in the end a minefield of new regulations and rules to make every step towards getting things done tougher. Probably why most of this being kept hushed.
Gina Rinehart gave away $100,000 tax-free raffle prizes to dozens of her staff at recent company parties – as an insider lifts the lid on her lavish 70th birthday bash. ‘It’s like a station hand who works in rural Queensland who wins 100 grand after tax, like a crazy, life-changing thing to happen,’ one company insider revealed to Daily Mail Australia. Guests were treated to a horse show with riders carrying the Australian and company flags along the red carpet. The riders carried whips and were dressed in iconic coat-maker Driza-Bone, which Mrs Rinehart bought last year.
‘Many attended wearing their Rossi boots, and enjoyed a horse show backed by the fantastic Aussie music, “The man from snowy river'” with riders accordingly also dressed in iconic Driza-Bone, and Rossi boots, carrying large Australian and company flags,’. It added: ‘The event was greatly enjoyed by all, with very positive comments by staff who attended, including, “the best night of my life”.’
The elite beach volleyball National made its way to Mollymook for the first time, delivering an action packed weekend for excited Mollymook residents and guests as part of the annual international Beach Volleyball circui t.Volleyball Australia’s patron, Gina Rinehart, and Principal Partner, Hancock Prospecting, wish all participants the best of luck for a terrific tournament.
Gina Rinehart’s mining arm is extending its reach into South America thanks to a US$120 million ($185m) commitment to explore Ecuadorian land rich in copper and gold. A Hancock Prospecting spokesman confirmed with WestBusiness that $US120m has been pledged to grab a 49 per cent stake in six separate parcels of mining land in the northern part of Ecuador.
Mayor of Town of Cottesloe Lorraine Young said: “The Town is delighted to accept this generous donation from Hancock Prospecting and Roy Hill. Sculpture by the Sea is a very significant part of Cottesloe life. To have this wonderful piece added to our sculpture collection is a gift to the Cottesloe community and to the hundreds of thousands of visitors we welcome to Cottesloe every year.”
The ‘resource curse’ – the failure of many countries to benefit from their natural bounty because of exploitation or mismanagement – is ‘a very real thing’. Wanblad adds: ‘It is down to responsible mining companies to change that.’
