Ian Macfarlane (Groom, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources) Share this | Hansard source

We did not have this process, Martin, so you did not learn this off me, mate. Could I ask the minister: on what or whose price and volume assumptions were the MRRT figures in the budget derived? Secondly, can I ask the minister about the breakup between large companies—and I am talking BHP, Rio and Xstrata in particular—and the midcaps and juniors as to how the MRRT will be paid. Does he agree with the economic modelling that shows that large mining companies with multiple projects will not pay MRRT for perhaps, in some cases, 15 to 20 years?

On the issue of the carbon tax, can I ask the minister, in light of his statement yesterday that, 'No-one can rule out a mine or two closing'—and that is the exact quote, Martin, you do not have to check it—whether any of the following mines are the mines he was referring to when he said that one or two mines would shut: Helensburgh, mines in the Lake Macquarie area, the Anglo American Capco mine in central Queensland, the Anglo American Murrumba North mine in central Queensland, the BHP mine at Broadmeadows, the Peabody Pacific mine at North Goonyella, the Vale mine at Carborough Downs and the Xstrata mines at Newlands and Oaky Creek. Can the minister outline what drop in net present value is being experienced by coal mining projects proposed for Queensland and New South Wales in regard to the implementation of carbon tax moving to a carbon trading scheme?

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