National Minerals Councils (Australia) by Ann Elk https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018 GG 2.30pm negotiations en-us 2018-04-02 08:54:49 UTC 2018-12-05 03:25:13 UTC hello@padlet.com Political-ethical - donations preston_johnson1 https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260714619 They make donations to gain access to MPs
$33,250 in 2015-16 and $57,345 in 2016-17, mostly to Liberal and National parties (guardian article)
Donations get MPs to attend fundraisers so MPA (minerals council of aussie) members can tell them why coal is so great
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/17/minerals-council-says-it-makes-political-donations-to-gain-access-to-mps

]]> 2018-05-15 04:44:09 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260714619 Political-ethical - new CEO preston_johnson1 https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260717648 MPA looking at hiring head of carbon storage, Tania Constable, as new CEO
Wait a minute...Tania Constable...ConSTABLE...stable.......coal is stable...nuclear is not...she is a robot spy wired with propaganda to keep coal around forever
http://www.afr.com/news/economy/minerals-council-eyes-tania-constable-as-ceo-20180408-h0yhfp


]]> 2018-05-15 05:03:01 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260717648 Political-ethical - BHP preston_johnson1 https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260721862 BHP gave MCA ultimatum to stop funding gov'ts powering coal-fueled stations (http://www.afr.com/business/mining/bhp-will-retain-minerals-council-membership-20171218-h06wup)
MCA doesn't care, continues to fund accelerated development of low-emissions coal technologies through advertising campaigns (http://www.afr.com/business/mining/bhp-threat-wont-stop-minerals-council-coal-advertising-push-20180109-h0fna4]]> 2018-05-15 05:44:46 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260721862 Regulatory stances (legal) johnzachary_garvey https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260722061
  • Environmental approvals – “One-stop shop” reforms would make project approval processes more efficient without compromising environmental outcomes. Further steps can be taken to integrate Commonwealth and State/Territory environmental approval processes using existing provisions of the EPBC Act.
  • Workplace relations – Significant reforms to the Fair Work Act are needed to better align workplace incentives with enterprise flexibility and improved productivity.
  • Coastal shipping – The anti-competitive Coastal Trading Act should be repealed and replaced by new legislative provisions to ‘open the coast’.
  • Local content reporting – The Australian Jobs Act 2013, based on the false premise that bureaucratic intervention in company purchasing decisions is the way to support Australian jobs, should be repealed. Australian Industry Participation plans are a regulatory solution in search of a problem.
  • Energy and climate change – The Renewable Energy Target is a costly form of industry assistance and an inefficient means of achieving emissions abatement. Duplicative energy reporting requirements can be further streamlined.
  • Business taxation – The forthcoming White Paper on tax reform is an opportunity to improve consultation and the administration of Australia’s complex business tax system.
  • Skilled migration – Labour market testing imposes unnecessary costs on business. Engineering professions in particular should not be targeted.
  • Indigenous economic development – The Aboriginal Lands Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 requires systemic review. By contrast, the Native Title Act 1993 has experienced a high level of legislative and regulatory churn and a degree of stability would aid stakeholder confidence.
  • Water access – Clause 34 of the National Water Initiative, which recognises the unique nature of water use in the minerals industry, should be formalised and integrated with water sharing plans and other water market mechanisms. The ‘water trigger’ for coal seam gas and coal projects in the EPBC Act should be removed.
  • Occupational health and safety – Consistent implementation of the Model Work, Health and Safety regime is unfinished business.
  • Exploration – Governments should work to increase the transparency of regulatory decisions, improve target time-frames, develop appropriate accreditation of State/Territory Indigenous heritage protection regimes and ensure regulatory agencies develop least cost, risk-based measures affecting exploration activity.
  • Uranium – The regulatory framework for uranium mining in Australia can be improved without any diminution of scrutiny or safeguards. For example, the EPBC Act should be amended to remove uranium mining, milling, decommissioning and rehabilitation from the definition of ‘nuclear action.
    • The MCA also recommends the Australian Government establishes a systematic, regular program of benchmarking the nation’s policies and performance in key areas – including health and education, energy, transport, telecommunications, taxation and trade and investment.


    ]]>     2018-05-15 05:46:48 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260722061     Callide Oxyfuel Project preston_johnson1 https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260725289 International low carbon emissions coal demonstration in Biloela, Queensland -NMC website


    ]]>     2018-05-15 06:16:44 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260725289     MCA member companies account for more than 85 per cent of Australia’s annual mineral production and 90 per cent of mineral export earnings. preston_johnson1 https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260725615 But also a source (forgot which one) says that coal mining corps only make up a small percentage of companies represented by the MCA
    Im confused

    ]]>     2018-05-15 06:18:45 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/260725615     Economic mark_phillips_2 https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/261774721 The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) vigorously stands by its position on the need for coal in Australia. Coal is at the forefront of Australia’s exports bringing in $60 billion to the Australian economy through the broader coal economy, representing 4.2% of the total GDP. In a report produced by the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics indicated that the investment in coal throughout Australia totals $118 billion over 93 project sites creating up to 75,000 jobs. 

    While the MCA appreciates the need for Australia to meet specific criteria to uphold the levels of emissions provided by the UN, the demand for Coal is more significant, with the adverse effects being significantly less than other private organisations predictions. With the ‘Mining Boom’ changing, the need for the support of coal in Australia is more than ever, with the need to manoeuvre towards more efficient procedures becoming necessitated. The MCA supports the move towards nuclear energy and is continually lobbying the government to repeal the law against the use of nuclear power in Australia. Nuclear energy will provide a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly product while contributing significantly to the Australian economy, creating numerous jobs and creating new infrastructure in rural areas. 

    With the inability to move towards nuclear energy, the MCA is firmly in support of the coal industry throughout Australia and the stands with the companies both large and small who, through their hard work and dedication allows Australia to move forward as a country on the world stage. Without the 75,000 staff across the country, Australia would be proceeding in the wrong economic direction and would fail to maintain the positive industrial image that has become synonymous with Australia.  

    ]]>     2018-05-18 00:40:58 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/261774721     Legal Position Statement johnzachary_garvey https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/261813402 Although the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) will continue to support and represent Australian coal miners, as they are recognized as a vital part of the domestic economy, it understands that global advancements need to be made to reduce the man-made effect on climate change. That’s why the (MCA) is in support of public policy that contains a coordinated approach to climate and energy that recognises the nature of Australia’s economy to be focused on energy and resources. The MCA is in full support of the Paris Agreement and is an active participant in other similar global agreements that commit major greenhouse gas emitting countries to reduction standards. It supports all policies which maintain Australian competitiveness in mining industries and have a minimal social and economic effect on households. All policy approaches should focus on supporting the lowest costing energy supply that is always available.
                The MCA believes in policy approaches which are technologically neutral meaning that no one technology is favoured while excluding others to spur competition and innovation into the mining industry. The MCA will be supportive in its influence public policy regarding the global transition to low emission technology such as solar, wind, advanced coal, and nuclear energy. 
                All legal policy regarding climate change must consider that the mining and minerals processing sector have contributed to over $500 billion of Australia’s wealth over the last 20 years, employs over 300,000 Australians, and plays a significant role in the development of infrastructure, so the MCA does not support reckless laws that could be detrimental to Australia’s economy. The Clean Energy Future, the Renewable Energy Target, and other state policies must be amended so that they support Australia’s international competiveness on trade based mining industries. Alternatively, the MCA supports an approach focused on the development of low emission technology. 
    ]]>     2018-05-18 06:07:15 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/261813402     Political-ethical preston_johnson1 https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/261821136 The Minerals Council of Australia represents the ideals of moving away from more wasteful methods of coal mining, using coal facilities that practice carbon storage techniques, until nuclear energy is accepted by the government as a safe and affordable alternative. The MCA prioritizes donations, fundraising, and advertising campaigns as a means of swaying MPs and other government officials. The MCA spent roughly $90,000 on donations from 2015-2018, mostly to the Liberal and National parties. Donating to Parliament and paying to attend fundraisers helps MCA members gain access to the MPs, providing them with the chance to inform MPs of the industry and the policies they put the most emphasis on.
                The MCA has also made internal changes to encourage and showcase their movement towards a more sustainable way of coal mining. Most notably, they have hired Tania Constable, previous head of MCA’s carbon storage outreach, as the new CEO of the Council. Member mining companies, such as BHP Billiton, have snuffed out the MCA for being too coal-friendly, so this is a smart measure to push the MCA’s media-centered higher-ups towards a statement of sustainability. The new CEO will continue to fund great proportions of donations to not only MPs, but the COAL 21 project – an initiative that collects voluntary levies from coal production and uses it for funding low-emissions demonstrations.
                The last point to make about the MCA is their freewill with regards to coal mining and low-emissions projects. MCA member companies account for more than 85% of Australia’s mineral production and 90% of mineral export earnings, but only a small percentage of those companies are coal mining corporations. Members of these majorities, such as BHP, give ultimatums for the MCA to end coal mining, and while the MCA pulls back on wasteful methods, they still push for their low-emissions demonstrations. This shows their commitment to finding alternative ways of sustainability in the energy sector, at least until nuclear energy becomes reality. 
    ]]>     2018-05-18 06:49:43 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/261821136     Get Up! sophie_a_mayo https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262251835 Q- After reviewing your policies, GetUp! is sceptical of your practice of donating to the Liberal and National parties, we highlight the fact that from 2015-18 you spent $90,000 on donations to these political groups. Getup! suggests that this relationship is directly responsible for silencing the voice of the majority as crucial to a modern democracy and is ultimately responsible for draining the social and economic facility of a burgeoning renewable energy industry. 

    ]]>     2018-05-21 02:46:24 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262251835     Social/socio-economic patrick_richardson https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262252940 The Minerals council of Australia (MCA) supports policies that focus towards improved infrastructure, high living standards for workers and consumers, cheap and reliable energy sources for consumers, high employment and zero workplace fatalities.

     Coal is a vital resource to the Australian economy that benefits our society greatly not only does it produce cheap and reliable energy it also produces high paying jobs. With the vast majority of these jobs being located in rural areas where unemployment would be a huge issue if it were not for the coal mining industry, as of 2015 185 thousand people were employed directly and indirectly as a result of the coal mining industry. Coal also injects 40 billion dollars into the Australian economy through exports, coal consists of around 15% of Australia's export market 

    The MCA ensures to support mining jobs to lessen regional inequality, it hopes to:
    • Streamlining state and federal approval processes for mining projects while also maintaining environmental protection and preventing baseless legal challenges to existing projects. 
    • Promoting taxation reforms which reduce Australia’s internationally noncompetitive corporate tax rate, being 27.5% while the average OECD corporate tax rate is 24%. 
    • Ensuring that energy and climate change policies are nationally coordinated and recognise the energy and resources-intensive nature of the Australian economy and allow least-cost CO2 emissions abatement, including through access to international offsets.
    ]]>     2018-05-21 02:55:30 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262252940     We at the Government of Queensland believe you are being too Switzerland in your blanket statement of supporting all energy industries. However deem this to be restricted just to the surface, whilst believing you to rank nuclear (or as you specified, uranium) energy first and the current norm of coal second. You in fact do not support renewable energy at all as far as we are concerned. Comments? Do you see renewable energy as a viability or a ｌｉａｂｉｌｉｔｙ？ jei_a_clifford https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262310350 2018-05-21 10:10:52 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262310350 Is paying the liberal members 'donations' (bribes) in order to achieve your organisation's goal your policy? Please disclose your thought regarding the legality and ethics surrounding this. jei_a_clifford https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262566974 2018-05-22 05:10:16 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262566974 Your group wants to move to more sustainable mining pratices?? emma_gensollen https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262567056 HELE or clean coal is a CONCEPT only the MNC believes… There is no such thing like clean coal, it is not more efficient, or cheap or clean ! Experts have SHUT DOWN this idea]]> 2018-05-22 05:11:19 UTC https://padlet.com/annelkhoury/NMC_GG2018/wish/262567056