Qld miners eye ‘blood and guts’ tax war

Marty Silk | November 23, 2022

Queensland coal miners are threatening “blood and guts” as they rachet up pressure on the state government to ditch royalty hikes.

Miners have been protesting against having to pay more royalties for each tonne of coal sold for more than $175 since July.

The Queensland Resources Council escalated its campaign by launching a series of newspapers, radio, TV and online advertisements on Wednesday.

The coal lobby group’s ads say Queensland’s royalty rate is five times that of NSW and “by far the world’s highest”, putting investment and jobs at risk.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane says the ads are aimed at convincing the government to consider the hikes and hold talks with miners.

“I don’t expect blood and guts, yet,” he told the QRC’s annual lunch in Brisbane on Wednesday.

“This is a slow burn, a gentle campaign, to make sure everyone, not just the government, every Queenslander understands what’s at stake.”

The QRC boss didn’t douse speculation the ad campaign could continue until the next state election in 2024.

“I don’t open my Christmas presents till Christmas Day and it’ll go for as long as it needs to and it’ll ramp up as it needs to,” Mr Macfarlane told reporters.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was invited to the QRC event, which she spoke at last year.

However, she said she and her ministers would snub it over the ad campaign which she claimed had a $40 million price tag.

“I am extremely disappointed in Ian Macfarlane and his attacks on the government,” she told reporters.

“Let me also say I have very strong working relationships with a whole range of companies and I will continue to back resources in this state.”

The QRC boss said the boycott was “poor form” given the mining sector employed about 451,000 people.

He said miners had paid $4.5 billion in extra royalties since July when Treasurer Cameron Dick had assured them it would be about $800 million more.

He denied his history as a Nationals senator and an industry minister for a federal coalition government had influenced the decision to run the ads against a Labor state government.

“This this is not about Ian Macfarlane and Annastacia Palaszczuk and Cameron Dick,” he said.

“This is about Queensland’s biggest export earner and the Queensland government, and the Queensland government needs to resolve it.”

The keynote speaker at the QRC lunch was Japanese Ambassador Yamagami Shingo, who has been a vocal critic of the royalty rise.

He warned Japanese companies could reconsider joint ventures in hydrogen and other sectors if the situation wasn’t resolved.

“A lot remains to be done. Japanese coal companies are yet to see any glimmer of hope that the situation will improve,” Mr Shingo told the lunch.

“Alongside coal, Japanese investment and trade in Australian gas is a cornerstone of our partnership based on trust.

“That is why we are following with great interest the discussion within Australia regarding energy, including gas and coal.”