by Ken Davis
Poor Gina recently claimed the
Australian Government was treating the mining sector like an ATM. She
urged the resource sector to “stand up for itself”. Now initially
I joined my more left leaning friends in condemning Gina. With others
I accused her of using Australia's resources as her personal ATM.
Well Gina – I am sorry. I was wrong.
You were r-r-r-r-right – in so many ways. More right than Andrew
Bolt.
The Australian Government DOES use the
resource sector as an ATM. The thing about ATM's is – you can only
use them to withdraw what is yours. The resources of Australia belong
to all Australians. The Government's job is to use those resources
wisely and ensure that present and future Australians get a fair
price for them. The problem for the government is that when it goes
to the ATM to get some money for worthy causes, it finds they have
been vandalised, or the money stolen. They find a gang of bleating,
unwashed protesters screaming, “Mine, mine, mine” blocking their
access. They find an army of reporters and advertising gurus armed
with sharp pens threatening to undermine their government.
Undermining is something they all do well.
Rather than standing on their own feet,
the resource industry suckles at the welfare teat with overly
generous benefits that are weighing down the country. Things like the
accelerated depreciation and excessive research and development
concessions. Or the diesel fuel rebate – which costs about $3.5
billion per year.
I am not ungrateful for the resource
sector. My house has aluminium windows. My car is made of steel. My
computer has all sorts of exotic minerals that make it work, most of
the time. But having produced two children and been to a playgroup, I
know something about infant behaviour. So when I see a noisy toddler
screaming “mine, mine, mine”, I smile. I wait for the parent to
step in and lecture about the reality of “things” and
relationships. Advice about playing nicely. “You need to learn to
share”. “People matter more than things”.
Most toddlers eventually grow out of
their tantrums and learn to play nicely, but not without parental
guidance and discipline. So Gina – it is time for the resource
sector to grow up. It needs to stand on its own feet. Learn to walk.
Stop throwing selfish temper tantrums. Play nicely, or when you grow
up you won't have any friends. And step back from that ATM so the
rest of Australia can get their money. There's plenty there for all
of us.
1 comment:
On the money that.
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