Megan Anwyl
Executive Director
Magnetite Network
Megan Anwyl is the Executive Director of the Magnetite
Network (MagNet) – an industry group that represents
WA magnetite producers on key issues, working with
legislators at a state and federal level. She is also a registered
lobbyist representing several companies in the magnetite
arena. A former lawyer and Member of Parliament (MP),
Megan has chaired the North West Iron Ore Alliance and was
a Director of the Esperance Port Authority for six years.
Here, Megan discusses the exciting times ahead for the
members of MagNet, with the new federal government’s
commitments to reform carbon pricing and mining tax,
and enhanced scope for further Chinese/Australian trade
relations in the magnetite sector.
(
L-R) AnSteel Group Chairman, Zhang Guangning; Gindalbie Metals Chairman,
George Jones and Premier Colin Barnett at the opening of the Karara iron ore project
Positioning magnetite in its
Currently the Magnetite Network has five members – Asia Iron
Australia, Atlas Iron, CITIC Pacific Mining, Gindalbie Metals and
Iron Ore Holdings. It has been a big year for magnetite, with two
new mines now in the commissioning phase. The Karara iron
ore project, a joint venture by Gindalbie Metals and Chinese
steel producer AnSteel, officially opened in April 2013, and
CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron project moved to production.
Today these two projects have a combined capital expenditure
of about $10.9 billion, with initial investment decisions for each
project taken in 2007.
MagNet applauded Premier Barnett’s commitment to a
magnetite royalty rebate. This was locked in to the August budget
with an amount of $15.9 million allocated to be spent in 2013-14,
and up to 50% of the royalty payable for the first year to be repaid
to new producers.
The 44th federal government is now officially sworn in, and
it is hard to believe that there will be no election campaign for
some time. The resources industry has some big expectations of
the Abbott government, with carbon pricing and mining tax law
changes promised.
MagNet strives to ensure that all elected legislators recognise
the need to have regulatory and public policy regimes that will
facilitate investment in the resources sector. Foreign investment
has been critical to the new magnetite projects here in the West
with the Chinese leading the way.
most alluring light
Federal election
Prior to the election, I had thought that most Australians wanted
to see a clear election result to avoid another hung parliament.
Ironically, while there is an emphatic victory for the Coalition
in the lower house, at the time of writing there is no clarity of
the senate numbers and several ‘micro parties’ predicted to win
a seat. This may mean a lot of uncertainty post-July 2014 when
the new senators commence, and it remains to be seen whether
the Coalition will call a double dissolution if key pieces of its
legislation are blocked.
MagNet actively pursued its key policy positions with
politicians and advisers from all major parties ahead of the
September poll. Congratulations to all newly elected members
and the new Ministers: Hon Ian Macfarlane (Industry) and
Hon Greg Hunt (Environment). It is also worth noting how much
respect exists in the industry for former Ministers Hon Gary Gray
and Hon Martin Ferguson, both as federal Minister for Resources
and Energy, and Hon Norman Moore as former Minister for Mines
and Petroleum in WA. MagNet has appreciated the support they
have provided to the emerging magnetite industry in this state.
MagNet welcomes the end of the Minerals Resource Rent
Tax, and has always argued that magnetite should not have been
included in this tax due to the need to heavily process it here
in Australia.
The sector also welcomes the commitment to streamline
mining approvals to avoid duplication between the federal and
state approvals regimes. The new Exploration Development
Incentive should also encourage investment.
Minesite 2013
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