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Australia’s mining reforms have gone distinctly “down under”

Richard — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:36:53 +0000

The Labor-held federal Australian government recently presented its much-awaited 2012 budget. And what a mess of potage it turns out to be! According to Rob Burgess of the Business Spectator, the country’s mining sector “currently accounts for 30 per cent of ‘gross operating surplus’ – its basic approximation of who’s making all the money in this country.” Miners pay only 15 per cent of company tax at present, and they were expecting a further cut in the tax, ostensibly to promote more jobs. But this hasn’t materialised. For the cut was “to come out of the revenue that the government speculates can be raised from the minerals resource rent tax [MRRT].” Now, it seems, the MRRT itself has just about bombed. This affects, among others, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11692.

Protesters want Rio Tinto off the Olympic podium

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:21:15 +0000

A protest against London 2012 sponsor Rio Tinto, which has supplied the metal to make the Olympic and Paralympic medals, welcomed the company’s shareholders yesterday in Brisbane, Australia, where the Australian annual meeting of the company’s board was taking place.

See http://www.mining.com/2012/05/10/olympic-games-protesters-attack-rio-tinto-in-canada-and-australia/.

London Calling muses on the future of Mining’s Giants

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:11:55 +0000

Two of the world’s three biggest mining companies – BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto – are currently “dialing down their risks and the pace of their previous dash for growth”. This is in order that they can “adjust to the evolving near to medium-term environment and…focus their spending on the projects with the strongest medium-term returns.” At least that’s the view of Stephen Bartholomeusz, one of the most astute commentators on the mineral industry.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11679.

Xstrata parody leaves mining giant fuming yet again

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:59:49 +0000

EFFORTS by coal giant Xstrata to purge a parody mining commercial from video site YouTube have backfired, reigniting interest in the months-old clip. The commercial, created as part of a union campaign by former Chaser member Charles Firth, was deleted from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union’s YouTube account in early December after a complaint from Xstrata.

However, a different YouTube user has uploaded the video to YouTube again.

See http://www.smh.com.au/business/xstrata-parody-leaves-mining-giant-fuming-yet-again-20120423-1xhac.html#ixzz1uZXb2UY2.

Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FA7EucYwcwI.

Aboriginal elder loses bid to overturn expansion of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam

Richard — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:01:15 +0000

An Australian Aboriginal elder has lost his challenge to the federal government’s approval of expansion of the world’s biggest uranium mine. Kevin Buzzacott had argued that insufficient consideration had been paid to the operation’s long-term impacts and risks posed by storage of radioactive wastes.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11658.

BHP Billiton’s move against Aboriginal elder ‘punitive and vindictive’

Richard — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:22:55 +0000

MEDIA RELEASE AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR FREE ALLIANCE

1st May 2012

DEMOCRACY AT A PRICE: DECISION BY BHP BILLITON AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEEK COSTS FROM ARABUNNA ELDER PUNITIVE AND VINDICTIVE

The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) is deeply concerned by the decision of BHP Billiton and the Federal Government to seek costs from Arabunna elder uncle Kevin Buzzacott arising from his challenge of the Federal approval of the Olympic Dam expansion.

“ANFA members fully support Uncle Kevin and admire his stand for country. We know that history will be the fairest judge of this struggle. BHP and the minister who approved the expansion of Olympic Dam will be forever linked to the toxic legacy of this mine, for thousands of years to come,” said Larrakia woman Donna Jackson, co-chair of ANFA.

“The court decided that Kevin Buzzacott had standing to pursue this challenge, as is his right under both the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act and the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act,” said ANFA Committe member Nectaria Calan. “Where does this leave the right to judicial review of such projects if those who seek such a review are then punished with costs?”

Dean Della Vale, president of BHP’s Uranium Customer Sector Group which is responsible for the Olympic Dam project, is a founding member of the Australian Uranium Associations Indigenous Dialogue Group, established to facilitate dialogue with traditional owners.

“BHP pursuing costs undermines any claims by the Indigenous Dialogue Group that they are seeking to engage with aboriginal communities in good faith. Aboriginal communities do not have the right to say no to mining on their land, and here we have an elder using one of the few legal options available to them to ensure that at least the impacts of the project were properly considered, and they may be facing a massive bill for doing so,” said Ms Calan.

“The message BHP are sending is that there are repercussions for taking on the mining giant. Last financial year the company recorded a total net profit of US$23. 95 billion – they certainly don’t need the money,” Ms Calan concluded.

For comment contact:

Donna Jackson + 61 427 847 186

Legal commentary: Nectaria Calan + 61 432 388 665

For background, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/2012/04/bhp-billiton-wants-money-from-aboriginal-elder/.

BHP Billiton wants money from Aboriginal elder

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:05:44 +0000

MEDIA RELEASE FRIDAY 20th APRIL 20212

MINING GIANT SEEKS COSTS FROM ARABUNNA ELDER AFTER RULING ON CHALLENGE TO FEDERAL APPROVAL OF THE OLYMPIC DAM EXPANSION

In a packed courtroom today Justice Besanko dismissed Uncle Kevin Buzzacott’s challenge of the Federal approval of the Olympic Dam expansion. The judge did not discuss his reasons in the court.

Both BHP and the Federal government are seeking costs from Kevin Buzzacott.

The hearing was held in the Federal Court on the 3rd and 4th April, after which the Judge reserved his judgement. Both BHP Billiton and the South Australian government had successfully sought to become parties to the proceedings.

“The speed with which this decision was made suggests pressure to resolve the matter as quickly as possible so as not to impact the project,” said Nectaria Calan of Friends of the Earth Adelaide.

“The judgement is really a product of the constrained nature of such administrative challenges. It really rests on interpretation of two pieces of legislation which govern the Ministers approval. The merits of the project were never on the table for discussion.”

“If such an approval with so many future plans yet to be approved constitutes a proper approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act, how can such an open-ended project be judicially reviewed?” said Ms Calan.

“The question we are left with is whether the EPBC Act protects the environment,” Ms Calan continued.

“This is a very sad day,” said applicant Kevin Buzzacott. “We offered the judge the issue on a platter, and he wasted an opportunity to make changes that will reverberate in this nation for thousands of years.”

“But we’re not going away. This isn’t over yet,” Mr Buzzacott concluded.

Both Kevin Buzzacott and Nectaria Calan will be available for comment on the details of the ruling early next week once the lengthy judgement has been considered.

Contact: Kevin Buzzacott +61 431 157 747 Nectaria Calan +61 432 388 665

For earlier reporting, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/2012/04/bhp-billitons-uranium-mine-expansion-challenged-in-court/.

Union sets April 12 date for next stoppage at BHP Australia coal mines

Richard — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:57:19 +0000

The coal mines, operated by the BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance JV, will be hit by a two-day work stoppage on April 12, union officials said.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page504?oid=148860&sn=Detail&pid=92730.…
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Massive demonstration in support of Rio Tinto’s locked-out workers

michaela — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:22:43 +0000

Thousands of people marched through the streets of Alma in Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec, to demand an end to the lockout and to fight for the preservation of jobs at the Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA) smelter. Three months and one day after the multinational corporation’s reprehensible lockout of its workers, largely subsidized by public funds, citizens from the region, families, workers and unionists from all over the world have their eyes set on RTA.

See http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/647230.

BHP Billiton declares force majeure

michaela — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:14:49 +0000

The world’s biggest miner, BHP Billiton, is declaring force majeure at its coal mines in Australia’s Bowen Basin due to prolonged union strikes and heavy rain, the company said on Monday, in a move that could spur prices of metallurgical coal. About 3,500 unionised workers have been staging rolling work stoppages at the mines since mid-2011 and Australia’s eastern state of Queensland, where the mines are located, was lashed by heavy flooding last year and heavy rain this year. BHP Billiton operates seven coal mines in the Bowen Basin that supply about a fifth of the world’s metallurgical coal, or coking coal used in steelmaking.

See http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/02/bhp-force-majeure-idUSL3E8F242A20120402.

Taxing Questions have Few Answers

michaela — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:38:51 +0000

How on earth can taxing carbon emissions save the planet, without a drastic cutback in our reliance on coal? That’s a question which hasn’t yet been addressed by one of the world’s biggest thermal coal exporting countries.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11602.

Xstrata Wins Approval for Biggest Australian Coal Mine

michaela — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:32:09 +0000

Xstrata Plc, the world’s largest exporter of power-station coal, won court approval to build the A$6 billion ($6.3 billion) Wandoan coal mine in Australia that opponents say threatens the Great Barrier Reef. Carmel MacDonald, president of the Land Court of Queensland, ruled that opponents hadn’t proved the mine would cause environmental harm justifying it being blocked.

See http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-27/xstrata-wins-court-approval-for-australia-s-biggest-coal-mine.html.

BHP Billiton’s uranium mine expansion challenged in court

Richard — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:50:53 +0000

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday 2nd April

OLYMPIC DAM APPROVAL CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT THIS WEEK

David and Goliath: Kevin Buzzacott v Federal Environment Minister, SA Government and BHP Billiton

Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, Aboriginal Elder of the Arabunna Nation in Northern South Australia, is challenging the Federal Environment Minister’s approval of the Olympic Dam expansion on the grounds that various environmental impacts of the project were not properly considered. He is represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, a community legal centre specialising in public interest litigation. The case will be heard on the 3rd and 4th of April in the Federal Court, Adelaide.

In October last year, the Hon Tony Burke MP approved the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.

Mr. Buzzacott is challenging the Minister’s approval on the following grounds:

1. The approval is so uncertain that it does not constitute a proper approval under the EPBC Act. This is because much of the environmental assessment and decision-making is left up to plans and studies that have not yet been prepared or considered by the Minister or the public.

2. The Minister did not properly consider the impact of the Olympic Dam expansion on the environment. In particular, the impacts from the above ground storage of radioactive tailings waste.

3. The Minister failed to consider the environmental impacts associated with the export of uranium.

4. The Minister failed to properly consider the impacts of the expansion on groundwater resources including the Great Artesian Basin.

“Because this is a nuclear action, the Minister is required by the EPBC Act to properly consider all environmental impacts. The size of this project makes this particularly important. Just the tailings dams will end up covering 4,400 hectares, to be left on the surface of the land forever. These dams are designed to leak radioactive waste into the underlying rock and aquifer. Such environmental impacts are not minor details to be worked out later,” said Nectaria Calan of Friends of the Earth Adelaide.

Both BHP Billiton and the South Australian Government have successfully applied to be party to the proceedings.

“Although the challenge relates specifically to the Minister’s approval, these parties will now also participate in the proceedings, and therefore influence the final decision of the Judge,” said Ms. Calan. “Uncle Kevin is now up against two tiers of government and a massive multinational mining corporation. It’s a vast imbalance of resources, suggesting concern on the part of BHP and the SA government that the challenge may succeed.”

The community will rally outside the court at 9.30am on both days in support of the legal challenge. The hearing is currently listed for 10.15 am Court no.7, level 7 on both days however media is advised that these details may change.

Contact:

Applicant: Kevin Buzzacott +61 431 157 747

Legal commentary: Nectaria Calan + 61 432 388 665

A background briefing with further details is available on request.

Media is further advised that both contacts will be unavailable whilst court is in session..

Australia passes controversial mining tax into law

michaela — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:14:17 +0000

The Australian Senate has pushed through into law a 30% tax on iron ore and coal mining companies. The tax will raise A$10.6bn ($11.2bn, £7bn) over three years from major companies including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17441170.

See also: Court threats loom as Australia’s mining tax passed http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hymTU1FJTqrQfMtQ0z2PXP2IzOygdocId=CNG.9fd2e1098c02c3cc04099ac8d7f2e9e9.11.

When it rains, it pours for BHP

michaela — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:26:07 +0000

A leaked email reveals that BHP Billiton never intended to negotiate new work practices with Australia’s leading mineworkers union. This is despite the world’s biggest mining company having previously committed itself to such negotiations, as strikes continued to disrupt Queensland’s coal fields. Last month BHP Billiton threatened to shift Aus$10 billion of investment from Queensland to Indonesia if it couldn’t get its way with the workers.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11548.