General President Tony Maher congratulated Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s team for emerging from some hard bargaining with the top CEOs of the world’s most powerful mining companies in a deal that delivers 90% of the revenue first put on the table for negotiations."The $10.5 billion increase this represents in revenue will allow the people of Australia to benefit from improved superannuation, provide tax improvements for smaller business and importantly for mining communities it retains the commitment to increased infrastructure in our regions.
"The compromise deal ensures a much fairer return for the people of Australia from the non-renewable resources that we own.
"Our Union is looking forward to a meeting with the Federal Government to discuss how our mining communities too can benefit from new and improved social infrastructure in our regions", said Tony Maher.
New tax deal shows just how phoney scare campaign was
The fact that the big mining companies have accepted the Gillard Government’s compromise deal that has delivered 90% of what was on the table,shows just how phoney their scare campaign was.
"Our Union was right in exposing the lies and spin that the big companies peddled in their multi-million dollar scare campaign", said Tony Maher.
"Jobs were never at risk and investment was never threatened by ensuring that the Australian people and our mining communities receive a fairer share from our natural resources", he said.
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ACTU Media Release
2 July, 2010
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said it was pleasing that improvements to superannuation, including the increase from 9% to 12%, had been maintained in the outcome of negotiations between the government and big mining companies.
"Big mining companies have been making mega profits out of Australia’s natural resources and must pay their fair share of tax and put something back into the community," Mr Lawrence said.
"The changes announced today will ensure that the wealth generated by the resources boom benefits all Australians through better superannuation and more infrastructure for regional areas.
"The mining industry has a clear capacity to pay more tax. Profits have grown by 530% - eight times wages – over the past decade.
"The mining lobby’s scare campaign has been shameful, but the government has shown a willingness to negotiate to achieve a consensus. The industry must now end their malicious campaign and accept it has to pay its fair share of tax.
more
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said it was pleasing that improvements to superannuation, including the increase from 9% to 12%, had been maintained in the outcome of negotiations between the government and big mining companies.
"Big mining companies have been making mega profits out of Australia’s natural resources and must pay their fair share of tax and put something back into the community," Mr Lawrence said.
"The changes announced today will ensure that the wealth generated by the resources boom benefits all Australians through better superannuation and more infrastructure for regional areas.
"The mining industry has a clear capacity to pay more tax. Profits have grown by 530% - eight times wages – over the past decade.
"The mining lobby’s scare campaign has been shameful, but the government has shown a willingness to negotiate to achieve a consensus. The industry must now end their malicious campaign and accept it has to pay its fair share of tax.
more
