WA 'may as well leave minerals in ground'
April 4, 2012

Western Australia may as well leave its minerals in the ground while its GST revenue continues to be stolen by Canberra and the eastern states, Premier Colin Barnett says.   :(

He's warned that the rate of mining growth in his state might not be so great after the current cycle of resource projects.

His comments came as Liberal state treasurers delivered a strong complaint to the federal government about changes to GST sharing arrangements.


In a meeting in Parliament House in Canberra the treasurers told their federal counterpart Wayne Swan they were unhappy about the lack of consultation over changes to GST.   :-?

The WA government has been campaigning for a greater share of GST revenues as it sees its cut fall significantly.

Mr Barnett is arguing for a floor of 75 cents in the dollar for WA.

He told Fairfax Radio on Wednesday his government was doing a lot to encourage regional development but there was a limit to that when money was being taken in "extraordinary levels off this state".

"You've basically got Canberra and the east coast states stealing money from Western Australia and spreading it amongst themselves.

"For Western Australia, the logical thing would be to leave the minerals in the ground," Mr Barnett said.

"The rate of mineral growth after this cycle of projects may not be so great."

Mr Barnett said his government would not allow new towns to spring up in the outback without good education, health, policing and other essential services.

"We're not going to allow resource development to run away at such a pace, when all the money goes to Canberra and we haven't got the capacity to match that economic development with social development," the premier said.

"I'm not going to stop approval of projects but the pace of development will not be a runaway train in this state."   :(

AAP

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-may-as-well-leave-minerals-in-ground-20120404-1wcf3.html#ixzz1r7wkqEjA

Maybe we should just consider not letting multinational corporations steal our resources

Well Mr Barnett, we thought the minerals in the ground belonged to all Australians.   :(

wrote on Apr 5^th, 2012 at 12:05pm:

Well Mr Barnett, we thought the minerals in the ground belonged to all Australians.   :(

You thought wrong.  It's in the constitution that mineral wealth belongs to the state in which it is deposited.

Saw off WA at the border and let it float off further westward into the Indian Ocean.

WA: A remote mine pit with a population suffering from a form of cabin fever.

Taxes are theft! Anarchy for all!

Clearly new feudal states must form around these glorious mines to stop those filthy Australians taking the wealth.

I can barely wait to see Sir Barnett sally forth over his open cut moat on a golden steed.

??

Barnett is an idiot!!

Somehow I dont think Barnett would want to see expenditure from the mines and the workers of those mines stopped.

progressiveslol wrote on Apr 5^th, 2012 at 1:11pm:

Somehow I dont think Barnett would want to see expenditure from the mines and the workers of those mines stopped.

....he is a peanut, fullstop!!

A victim.... lol he is so gone!!

easy solution. increase mining royalties every time they drop the GST share.

But on the other hand. WA was supported for decades by the eastern states before mining took off. It is perhaps time to return the favour some.

longweekend58 wrote on Apr 5^th, 2012 at 4:30pm:

easy solution. increase mining royalties every time they drop the GST share. But on the other hand. WA was supported for decades by the eastern states before mining took off. It is perhaps time to return the favour some.

logical solution. just make the mining industry state run.

I was under the impression it was only the States and they all had to agree who could change the make up of the GST division..

it wasnt up to the Feds...

It is because WA has raised the royalties on iron ore fines (very fine iron ore) that the GST has been calculated to include WA's increased revenue.....WA has benefited from the production States in the East for nearly two centuries and has been well looked after when it came to Commonwealth funding.....I am one Western Australian who is humbled by the opportunity for our State to contribute more back to the Commonwealth and accept WA has revenue streams that are not available to other States and can afford to contribute more whilst the State tax revenue is at an all time high.....Barnett bribed the Nationals to win office and is fixed on a surplus while the Nationals are struggling to spend all their money that is all going to pork barrel National held seats.....Barnett has shown he is a typical opportunist who thinks Western Australians are as shallow as he is!!!

>:( >:( >:(

what happens when the mining boom goes bust..or at least dwindles down..

I am sure sharing the wealth is a wonderful thing.. but like the pokermachine royalties govts State and Fed get addicted..before we know where we are we cant manage without them..no matter what the price.we pay... and there is ALWAYS a price..

and I dont mean cash.