BHP snd RIO are certainly not angels but they and the rest of the resources sector HAVE and DO contribute significantly to Australia.
- The resources sector pays billions in mining royalties every year to state governments, mostly WA and QLD. All residents in all states benefit from their own state's mining royalties. - The resource sector pays more company tax than any other sector. This money goes into Federal Government revenue and all Australians benefit. - The resource sector creates a huge number of jobs in all states, not just for mine workers. Jobs in mining services, engineering, construction, rail and roads, ports, transportation, electricity generation, administration, financial services etc. - The resource sector provides significant dividends and capital gains to almost all superannuation funds which benefits almost all Australians. - The Resources sector provides significant dividends and capital gains to millions of Australians who have direct share investments in mining companies.
Also, it is not just about RIO, BHP and a few billionaires. These companies have millions of Australian shareholders as well and there are hundreds of smaller mining companies that are predominantly Australian owned that will be hit harder by the proposed RSPT than BHP and RIO.
We can debate the rights and wrongs of the RSPT and whether or not the resources sector can afford to pay a bit more tax, but NO Australian can argue that they don't benefit from the resources sector or that it doesn't contribute significantly to this nation.
