13/8/96
Western Australian Mines Minister Kevin Minson and Resources Development Minister Colin Barnett said today they were delighted the Federal Government would not scrap the diesel fuel rebate.
The Ministers said it was a sound decision by the Commonwealth and would renew confidence in the mining industry, particularly in Western Australia.
"While it is acknowledged that every section of the community is going to share the pain of putting Australia back on a financially even keel, penalising an industry which produces so much of the nation's wealth was not a sound idea," Mr Minson said.
"It is also a sector which provides a big number of jobs. In Western Australia, for example, one in five people owe their living either directly or indirectly to the mining sector."
"The decision was a win for common sense."
Mr Barnett said the announcement meant the mining sector could return to business as usual.
"The possibility of losing hundreds of millions of dollar a year had a significantly destabilising effect on the industry and those who work in it," Mr Barnett said.
"That impact spilt over into the stock market and put some mining sector shares under considerable pressure."
Both Ministers had supported the industry in its battle to retain the rebate, lobbying at a State and Federal Government level.
Mr Minson also took up the issue at the annual ANZMEC meeting held recently in Adelaide.
Media contact: Caroline Lacy (09) 222 9211 or Justine Whittome on (09) 222 9699
