Rudd puts Olympic Dam expansion at risk
05 May 2010
Media release "Kevin Rudd's $9 billion resources rent tax may well put the expansion of the Olympic Dam mining operation at risk", Christopher Pyne, the Federal Member for Sturt said today.
"BHP Billiton has the option of expanding a number of its operations around the world - there are copper mines in Chile that present BHP Billiton with the possibility of growth equal to Olympic Dam," Mr Pyne said.
"Mr Rudd's $9 billion resources rent tax will cause BHP Billiton to consider whether expanding Olympic Dam is in the best interests of shareholders or whether their money might be better spent elsewhere," he said.
SA needs the expansion of Olympic Dam and the jobs and royalties it will bring to our state. We need projects of this kind if we want future generations of South Australians to see a future for themselves here.
"The Premier of Western Australia has had plenty to say about the Rudd's resources rent tax - our own state government has been eerily silent. When will the state government start standing up for South Australians rather than putting the interests of their Labor mates in Canberra first," Mr Pyne said.
May 4, 2010
Media Contact:
Adam Howard
0400 414 833