Senator Eric Abetz

Today the Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team visited local Huonville Quarry, Duggan Quarry at Cradoc with Federal Franklin Liberal Candidate Jane Howlett.

Some small miners  have said if they  lost  40  per  cent  more  of  their  profits,  the  net  return  would  hardly  be  worthwhile  for  the  capital  outlay.

‘And  they’re  talking  about  taking  40  per  cent  our  profit  as  well?  What  they’re  saying  is  we  may  as  well  pack  up  and  go  home  now.’  (Source:  Ray  Levin,  CEO,  Italia  Stone  Group  [limestone/sandstone  –  employs  46  people],  ‘Caught  between  a  rock  and  a  hard  place,’  The  Australian,  28.05.10)

"This tax will hit local jobs, anyone with superannuation and shares," Liberal Candidate for Franklin Jane Howlett said.

"My family have been in the Earth moving and construction business for most of my life, I know how this tax will hit aggregate, concrete and construction costs," Jane Howlett said.

The Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team joined Jane Howlett at the Duggan Quarry; the family company has been operating since 1927 and would be hit by the 40% mine tax which will hit Huon jobs and investment.

Senator Eric Abetz, on behalf of the Tasmanian Liberal Senate Team, said Labor’s proposed super profits tax will result in higher rates for Tasmanians due to increased costs to State and Local Governments which will be forced to pay more for road building and maintenance. The mining tax will also make it more expensive to build houses in Tasmania, Senator Abetz said.

"It's not just the jobs in the Huon, there are a number of quarries and sand mines all over the electorate of Franklin let alone the impact on superannuation and shares or even the inflows from the major mines in Tasmania and interstate which have kept Australia going in recent years," Jane Howlett said.

• It’s a triple whammy on jobs, retirees, consumers.
• It’s a damaging, retrospective tax which is a dagger aimed at the heart of Australia’s prosperity.
• This tax hits local quarries; local sand mines and is so ridiculous in some state even local salt producers who mine evaporated sea salt.

The Liberal Senate Team was visiting Kingborough and the Huon today with Federal Candidate Jane Howlett highlighting local issues.