The panel, made up of Centennial Coal managing director and CEO David Moult, Northparkes Mines managing director Stefanie Loader and Minerals Council of Australia deputy CEO John Kunkel had that very question posed by moderator and Australia’s Mining Monthly columnist Michael Pascoe.
Pascoe put it to them that during the Mining Tax battle the industry had mobilised and led a successful campaign that not only saw off the mining tax but also then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
However, since then mining seems to have lost every major battle since.
Given two of the panellists are intrinsically linked to the New South Wales mining sector, this has become particularly apparent.
One of the stands at AIMEX proudly trumpets a call to support the South Drayton coal development that is awaiting approval by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission.
Both Moult and Loader agreed that the PAC was one of the biggest concerns facing mining in NSW at the moment. They and Kunkel also agreed that mining was losing the policy battle.
Loader, who is also the president of NSW Mining, is keen to see a return to the saw of campaign that helped get rid of the Resources Super Profit Tax – and Rudd.
She argues that mining’s message is getting lost in the static coming from the noisy minority.
“As an industry in NSW we are probably at a low point in overall confidence in government,” Loader said.
That said she believes there could be a bright future ahead.
“If we can get the [policy] settings right there is a bright future,” Loader said.
“We need to keep an eye on the long-term future.”
Kunkel said one of the problems with keeping up pressure on the policy makers was the amount of “noise” around them.
“Those in Canberra are more interested in what invitation Dyson Heydon had or who was on Q&A,” he said.
“If you talk about the silent majority, there is a very strong understanding that mining is important to the country. There is no doubt people have concerns about environmental issues about the industry.
“For most politicians, once you present the trade-offs in a legitimate way they agree mining is important.”
What frustrates many in mining is the unqualified criticism the industry receives.
Moult said inaccurate statements were often allowed to go through to the keeper unchallenged.
“I’ve heard some of the Alan Jones comments in the morning and he can say things that aren’t challenged,” he said.
So is it time for a return to a mining tax sized campaign to properly voice the concerns of the silent majority?
According to Kunkel there are not the funds available to do that.
He is also of the belief that the MCA would have to look at different ways to get its message out.
Kunkel is considering more of a social media campaign.
