Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I note that the Mongolian foreign minister is visiting Australia to discuss cooperation, including in the mining sector. How is Australia cooperating with the Mongolian government in promoting economic growth?

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Moore for his question. I note his deep interest in economic growth in the state of Western Australia. I will be hosting the Mongolian foreign minister, Bold Luvsanvandan, today. This is the first visit by a Mongolian foreign minister in 20 years. We very much welcome his visit because it is an opportunity for us to discuss the enhanced trade and investment ties between Mongolia and Australia. Indeed, there is an increasing number of Australian mining and resource companies that are investing in Mongolia. In particular I give the example of Rio Tinto, which is now in a joint venture with the Mongolian government in a gold and copper mine. A number of other Australian mining companies are investing. And why wouldn't they? Because, as the foreign minister of Mongolia said today, 'Our new model for foreign direct investment is very much designed for Australian businesses—we're offering stability, openness and lower tax.' That is not something that the Labor government could ever offer Australian businesses. They could not offer them stability, openness or lower taxes. Back in 2009 when the Labor economic dream team of former Prime Minister Rudd and former Treasurer Swan—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, this was as specific as a question can be.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was about Mongolia. There is no way in the world that this is anything other than the foreign minister taking licence to have a political sledge.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will return to the question.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Back in 2009 when the Labor economic dream team were designing a mining tax—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will desist!

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to impose on Australian mining companies, Mongolia was rescinding its mining tax. Back in 2009 Mongolia knew that to get foreign investment, to get jobs and to get growth they had to get rid of an unnecessary mining tax. In fact, it was said at the time:

The votes today—

in the Mongolian parliament—

by overwhelming majorities … represent a significant step in Mongolia's commitment to attract foreign investment in the development of the country's mineral resources.

Mr Husic interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley will desist or leave. The choice is his.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Good on Mongolia! But just months later, 'back to the future' Labor imposes the very mining tax that Mongolia had gotten rid of. So Mongolia understands what the Australian government understands, what internationally competitive economies understand and what the Labor Party refuses to understand, and that is: unnecessary mining taxes are bad for jobs, bad for the Western Australian economy and bad for internationally competitive economies. So I say to the Leader of the Opposition, who has shown his policy cowardice with his nod, nod, wink, wink in Western Australia, 'We don't oppose the mining tax'—

Mr Champion interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield is warned!

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But he is such a big-noting hero back here: he is going to stand up to the repeal of the carbon tax. The Leader of the Opposition should get with Mongolia, get to the 21st century, and repeal the mining tax.