Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to reports today that BHP Billiton has confirmed that it will not proceed with the planned Red Hill coalmine near Moranbah in Queensland, which follows previous announcements that it will not proceed with the $30 billion Olympic Dam mine expansion in South Australia or the $20 billion outer harbour expansion in Port Hedland in Western Australia, as well as announcements that 1,700 jobs have been lost across several BHP Billiton mines over the past six months. Will the government now concede that its carbon tax, its mining tax, its massive increases in red and green tape, increased union militancy on its watch and all of its other anti-mining policies and anti-mining rhetoric have hurt Australia's economic fortunes?