AUSTRALIA’S richest woman, Gina Rinehart, is warning that rushing to reduce greenhouse emissions without proper costings could imperil family farmers and cost taxpayers “billions in subsidies”. The mining and pastoral tycoon has outlined her particular concern that family farmers who have endured years of drought, bushfires and Covid-19 do not have spare cash, so cannot afford to invest to change to renewable energy. Mrs Rinehart said costings should be the first priority and urged the Federal Government to “stand firm” until these had been properly assessed and made public.
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Infrastructure key to regional boom
The report says improving regional connectivity is critical to unlocking additional growth and backs a staged investment in transport infrastructure aimed at supporting economic diversification and sustainable population growth. It says this strengthens the case for modern, fast rail improvements. Mass movements of people from cities to towns such as Margaret River in Western Australia and Orange in NSW – both as holiday destinations and places of residence – had sparked huge demand for housing and services. The report says a more coordinated infrastructure policy would meet specific needs by drawing on each region’s competitive advantage, facilitate growth and encourage a better balancing of population growth between cities and regions.
Read moreTaking the big smoke to the bush
“Not by a decentralisation policy where we shift public servants from government agencies out into country towns. But where we flip that model, identify the unique competitive advantage of the region, and use that to attract people … but also businesses who are keen to relocate if we get the infrastructure piece right.”
Read moreBrickworks slams IMF carbon tax
“(Australian governments) are into the rule book to try and find out how they can stop you doing what you want to do, or try and delay you, whereas in America, representatives of the governor will come and see you and ask you how they can help,” he explained.
“We need to be prepared to relax the regulations so companies can function. It’s just too onerous at the moment, and very difficult for companies to invest in Australia,” he added.
Townsville Enterprise calls for cut in red tape for mining
“It’s important we work together with government and industry to ensure that we have a true partnership in terms of cutting red tape, finding investment opportunities in common user infrastructure and making sure the supply chain is ready for those junior miners coming through.
Read moreInfrastructure project delays risk derailing economic growth
“The drought, the bushfires, the extreme weather events have really highlighted the importance of taking those shocks and stresses into our decision making right at the planning phase,” Ms Madew said.
Read moreRural communities bedrock of recovery
The resilience of regional and rural communities is the hallmark of the Australian spirit and the bedrock on which our economic recovery is being built. More than 9.5 million Australians call regional Australia home. And when we look at what has helped drive our bounce back it is the resources sector, the agricultural sector and tourism in regional and rural Australia.
Read moreRegions drive broader economy
“If we don’t get it right we’re not going to go anywhere, because regional Australia is actually the engine that drives the broader economy,” he said.
Read moreRed tape ‘costing workers $2k a year, curbing growth’
People in NSW could pocket an extra $2000 a year and enjoy a better quality of life if the Berejiklian government agrees to remove a raft of regulatory roadblocks that are hampering growth in key sectors such as education, infrastructure and housing, a report has found.
Read moreFocus on critical minerals in northern Australia to increase
“Putting Team Australia on the global critical minerals map will help attract the investment and technology necessary to meet the growing needs of global supply chains for critical and other minerals for high value products like batteries, solar cells and other innovative and early-stage technologies,” the MCA stated in March.
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