Joe, growth in manufacturing is impossible as long as the wages being paid by miners continues.

This is why something must be done to bridge the gap.

My suggestion is to place a levy on miners pay rolls, and use these funds to subsidize non mining wages.

Same should apply to rents, as many locals of until recently, unknown towns, simp,y can't afford the new rents.

In my town of Miles, rents have gone from $120 per week, up as high as $1500 per week within four years.

At the same time, small business is struggling as they can't find anyone to work for what most consider normal wages.

It is also my understanding that the MRRT doesn't address either of these issues, directly. But correct if I'm wrong.

rechtub,

Yes, the towns that host mining do have a problem with rents and businesses trying to maintain operation in the "real world". The other side of the coin is in the fly-in/fly-out phenomenon which carries its own problems. There's a lot of psychological pressure on families to endure this sort of set-up. It's really just unfolding how difficult many people are finding this type of arrangement.

As for workers in the mining sector earning big bickies: my son-in-law is presently working in the Pilbara and has almost half his wage taken in tax (they have no children) I know of another single fellow who's worked on Barrow Island for twenty years who pays the same in tax....of course, he's still very comfortable, but much of this taxed income is and should be going to the causes you espouse.

Thanks Butch, point taken :)

P, your son in law musT be on huge wages, as the top tax bracket doesn't kick in till he earns about $80K.

So he only pays 48c/ $ on anything above $80K.

What is more attractive to mining workers, than most other conditions, is the on off style rosters. Many are now two on, two off.

Regular business simply can't compete.

On another issue, I heard today that there are doubts about the Bowan basin coal projects.

What I heard was that China is building a train line to Mongolia and, that Mon has 100 times the coaking coal as we do and, with the combination of the carbon tax, and mining taxes, our cost of production will be $150 per ton, we sell it for $130 per ton.

Mongolias cost of production is something like $40 per ton.

This simply means those against coal mining may well get their wish, as our coal boom may end in two years or so.

WHAT THEN!