"under the new tax rules if they spent the 15 bil before they do Fortescue will receive 4.5 bil back up front from the Government to help"
NO! Currently all development costs are a tax deductible expense. What the gov's RSPT is saying is we will give you some of that tax deduction as a rebate at your next tax return. But the rebate itself is taxable (30%). So they are much worse off than if that just claim a normal tax deduction for the development costs even if they have to wait a bit longer to get all the benefit.
The rebate only helps those who cant get financed. Would you hand out money to anyone just because they want to dig a hole? The gov will. But its not their money, its yours and mine!
