BHP/Rio probed for state agreement breach

OMG, no wonder McKenzie is throwing a hissy fit over the IO dumping inquiry.

http://www.copyright link/business/...bhp-billiton-rio-is-pointless-20150513-gh0umo

BHP and Rio could face a second probe, with West Australian Labor opposition spokesman on mines minister Bill Johnston planning to file a motion for an state parliamentary inquiry next week.

....also probing whether BHP and Rio's Singapore marketing hubs exposed by the Federal government's tax inquiry last month could cost the state hundreds of millions in lost royalty payments.

"If they are paying it [royalties] on the landed price in to China there is no issue," Mr Johnston said.

"But if they are not paying it then that's an issue. At the moment we don't know. It's opaque because of the way it is reported."

If it emerged the miners were paying royalties on the price ore is sold to Singapore marketing hubs, rather than the price paid to Chinese steel mills, it could put them in breach of their state agreements.