Mining companies’ ridiculous claims about the impact of the Federal Government’s proposed Resources Super Profits Tax (RSPT) are finally coming under proper scrutiny.
This article in today’s Fairfax press exposes Xstrata’s form in lying and bullying to protect its profits.
Earlier this month Xstrata grabbed headlines with the spurious claim 3,250 jobs were being lost as it shelved the Wandoan thermal gas project in Central Queensland, with another 60 jobs lost from shelving the expansion of the Ernest Henry copper project.
But mining services contractor Industrea announced it had won a $3.4 million contract from the Anglo-Swiss miner on the Ernest Henry site on the same day and Xstrata continues to buy up farmland in the 32,000 hectare Wandoan exploration area.
The claim by mining companies that their high profits are always in the national interest is another whopper.
Xstrata demonstrated this when it controversially shut its Windimurra vanadium operation in Western Australia in 2004 leading to widespread job losses – but significantly boosting the value of its South African vanadium business.
As Tony Maher points out, the mining companies have frequently claimed the sky would fall in, whether over climate change action or land rights.
Miners like Xstrata have to be kept accountable for the claims they make.
