News

Projects regulated to death

As the minister overseeing the process, he has been unable to effect any real change in seven years, so there’s little confidence that change will happen quickly. According to the CCIWA, there are about $381 billion of investment projects in the pipeline that are yet to receive environmental approval that could create an estimated 106,000 jobs. Of those the CCIWA surveyed, 40 per cent were at risk of abandoning their project due to longer-than expected approval times. As outlined in the WA CCI’s Green Web report, businesses have described working with the State Environmental Protection Authority as “laborious and frustrating” with “ever-changing guidelines and shifting goal posts”. Currently, the normal expectation for a mine to come online is eight to 10 years, double traditional expectations of four to five years.

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Cornering a different market?

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has taken a majority stake in the Bunbury Farmers Market, heralding a new era for the South West business. The West Australian can reveal that Hancock Prospecting, Mrs Rinehart’s key investment vehicle, has reached a deal with the market’s current owners — Kevin Opferkuch and Graham Heath — but the exact terms were not disclosed. In a statement, Hancock said the investment would help to accelerate plans to grow the much-loved market, including the development of the recently announced Vasse Village Bunbury Farmers Market, which is set to open in late 2024. “Additional future sites, including Perth locations, will also allow new customers to enjoy the unique BFM experience,” Hancock said.

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Gina Rinehart backs coast-to-coast 2026 Commonwealth Games bid

The mayors of the Gold Coast and Perth have proposed hosting a “coast-to-coast” 2026 Commonwealth Games – backed by the ­nation’s richest person – to “rescue Australia’s reputation” following the withdrawal of original hosts Victoria under Daniel Andrews. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas – as well as billionaire mining magnate and sports patron Gina Rinehart – have sent a letter this week to Anthony Albanese seeking his support for the idea.

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Gina’s Christmas wish

Australia’s richest person has called on the federal government to give the nation a “Christmas bonus” in the form of a petrol excise tax cut to deal with spiralling costs, as “woke agendas” threaten Aussie living standards. “Every few dollars counts for people in tough times,” Mrs Rinehart told The Daily Telegraph. “With the stroke of a pen, the government could deliver minor short-term relief to millions by cutting the petrol tax for households.

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Miners dig in on ‘divisive’ IR deal

Labor’s industrial relations deal with resource sector employers has split the mining industry, with Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting opposing the agreement and the Minerals Council of Australia accusing a rival employer body of being a “soft target”. As the Senate crossbench renewed its bid to split the bill this year, employer groups representing big and small business criticised the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association over the deal to exclude ¬service contractors from the industrial relations bill. Hancock Prospecting’s Roy Hill mining operation, which is a member of both AREEA and the Minerals Council of Australia, wrote to AREEA chief executive Steve Knott on Wednesday to express concern about the deal.

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Gina’s call for xmas fuel relief

Australians should receive a “much-needed” Christmas bonus from the Federal Government, in the form of another fuel excise cut for December, mining billionaire Gina Rinehart believes. Speaking out after hearing about the impact of cost-of-living rises from West Australians at the National Agriculture and Related Industries Day, Mrs Rinehart said halving the 44.2¢ a litre excise would provide relief. Former prime minister Scott Morrison’s government halved the fuel excise to 22.1¢ a litre in March last year, offering six months of cost-of-living relief to drivers.

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Gina’s xmas wish for nation

Australia’s richest woman has called on the government to give the nation a “Christmas bonus” in the form of a petrol tax excise cut at a time when people are struggling to deal with spiralling costs and said the “woke” agenda threatened living standards. “Every few dollars counts for people in tough times,” Mrs Rinehart told The Advertiser in an exclusive interview.

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Send miners to parliament and students to work, Gina Rinehart says

Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart has called on the mining sector to push its own workers and advocates into parliament, so they can tear up environmental regulation she warns is jeopardising the industry’s ability to maintain its current levels of production.
In a speech to mining executives and Liberal leader Peter Dutton at her Roy Hill mine on Wednesday, Mrs Rinehart took aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for taking overseas trips to spruik trade while his government was handcuffing local industry.

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