….
By Jo Nova
It was never about The Science
And so we find that the global consensus quietly dispersed, there were no press releases, no ceremonies, just the dawning realization that nearly everyone had left the party without saying goodbye. And they didn’t wait for the UN to say “the science” was fine. The herd is on the move regardless…
One of the top majordomos at BHP delivers the bad news to Anthony Albanese. Everywhere on Earth is more attractive to a miner than Australia is. The world has changed, and everyone wants cheap energy, critical minerals, and lower taxes and other countries are giving it to them. Even Canada (ferrgoodnesssake!) is “walking back policies that the country can’t afford”. While Australia is the last nation on Earth steaming ahead to Renewable-nirvana.
Brandon Craig specifically mentions problems with climate targets, competitively priced energy, and Net Zero.
In the nicest possible way he’s telling our PM that his Net Zero plan is a dog.
Mining giant’s rising star Brandon Craig warns even green policy stalwarts like Canada are moving to protect their economies
By Brad Thompson, The Australian
BHP rising star Brandon Craig has warned Labor it needs to reconsider how policy settings are calibrated, including around emissions and climate targets, or risk being left behind by governments hungrier for mining investment.
Investment rivals like Chile, Argentina, the United States and Mark Carney’s Canada were acting to attract and secure multi-billion dollar investment from miners, but Australia was failing to meet their terms.
Mr Craig suggested it was time to reconsider net zero and decarbonisation policies to safeguard Australia’s economy. “I would let readers form their own conclusions but I think if we contrast directionally where the rest of the world is going versus where Australia is going across energy policy, tax policy, industrial policy, deregulation, even in some respects net zero positioning and decarbonisation, even stalwarts like Canada – in the face of tariffs and the impact to the economy from US policy – is walking back policies that the country can’t afford anymore,” he said.
The two things BHP particularly wants are the corporate tax rate lowered from 30 to 20% and reliable cheap power.
Brandon Craig is working in Argentina to develop the Vicuna copper project. He points out the tax rate there fell from 35% to 25% under the leadership of Javier Millei. And the successes of small government in Argentina are spreading to Chile — where voters go to the polls this weekend, and are expected to also elect “a hard right leader”. According to Craig, the word is that it’s likely the next government in Chile will improve their tax regime because they are competing with Argentina for mining investment.
The effect of liberty is infectious, isn’t it?