More Than Mining Campaign Progresses

Earlier this week the next phase of the ‘More Than Mining’ campaign was launched, in which Australian Mining Cities Alliance (AMCA) has been a key collaborator.  This important initiative proposes reform that will address critical housing affordability barriers in mining cities and towns across Australia.

So heavily impacted by the economic swings and the power of mining companies to influence housing demand, our mining cities and towns need the Australian Government to remove inequities particularly in its application of Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) concessions.

AMCA Chair Phil Barwick (Deputy Mayor of the Mt Isa City Council) applauded the move and committed AMCA’s ongoing support for the campaign.

Phil stated, “The More Than Mining initiative offers a practical and meaningful solution that would level the playing field for ordinary people in these communities. I urge all elected Parliamentary Members and Senators to support resource communities by having a very close look at this simple low-cost fix of the FBT arrangements. It will make a real economy boosting change to support our residents whose housing costs are impacted by the mining industry.”

“Our key workers who don’t work in the mines but service the economic and social needs that the mines generate, need support to allow them to live and work in our towns and cities.  It is for these people we fight.  They are the backbone of mining communities and truly deserve affordable housing to continue to do their important work which ultimately underpins our nation’s prosperity.”

“Over many years we have witnessed extreme volatility in housing markets in our mining cities and regions, which cannot be eliminated by normal market conventions.  We believe this is the time for the Government to use its regulatory and taxation tools to do something about it.” he said. The More Than Mining campaign calls for community and business support.  The website at www.morethanmining.com.au has a calculator to show how mining community householders can benefit.  It also has a link to petition and we ask mining city residents, businesses and workers to support that petition.