Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

That's why we've got an adult government that looks forward to engaging with the Minerals Council of Australia about the broader questions of design in terms of the community-benefit principles. We don't wander around the country looking for an argument with industry organisations, trade unions, local government, or states and territories; we think that pulling people together, not having a glass jaw about criticism and not having to agree on every issue are the way to get the best outcome for Australia and Australians. I'm very pleased that you've quoted from the Minerals Council. In the Senate inquiry, they were very deliberate about what they said. They said:

The MCA supports the critical minerals production tax incentive because it is a positive step towards attracting investment in the critical minerals industry.

We support the bill because the bill is going to help to reduce the cost of production for people that develop facilities downstream.

… we've got member companies that have existing downstream facilities—they've already invested—so they will benefit from the critical minerals production tax incentive when it commences on 1 July 2027. We've got a lot of other members that are mining the mineral-obviously, that's not eligible for the critical minerals production tax incentive—and they're in consideration of whether they will go to downstream processing as well. This will assist with the decision-making.

We've got the Australian mining industry out there making it absolutely clear that they support the bill. We've got manufacturers making it absolutely clear that this will make the difference. This will make the difference for Western Australia in particular. It is a source of embarrassment that your side of politics persists in talking Australia down—this carping negativity, this nastiness about Australian manufacturing on the east coast and dead quiet in Perth. Mr Dutton and Mr Taylor are silent as the tomb in the Pilbara but big on the yabber on this when they're over here on the east coast, hoping that people in Western Australia, Central Queensland and the Hunter don't hear them.