Mining companies worried about tax review

The prospect of a resource rent tax of 40% has many in WA's business and mining sectors worried. The tax is expected to be a recommendation of the Henry tax review. Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett has expressed concern that billions of dollars worth of investment projects could be in jeopardy if the tax is implemented.

Thousands of jobs in WA's mining industry

A new report by the National Institute of Labour Studies has shown that there are thousands of jobs for cooks, cleaners and other low-skilled labourers in Western Australia. It also says that around 38,000 new jobs will open up for unskilled and semi-skilled workers in the state over the next 10 years. Western Australia is expected to account for 55 percent of Australia's growth in demand for labour in the 10 years.

Gillard tours Gorgon gas project site

Deputy Prime Minister Julie Gillard toured the construction site of the Gorgon gas project this week as part of a tour of LNG projects in Western Australia.
The Deputy PM encouraged people down on their luck in the eastern states to look at projects such as Gorgon for job opportunities. The Gorgon construction site is not much to see at the moment, but by 2014 Barrow Island will be home to the most sophisticated LNG project in the world.

Aker Solutions wins Gorgon contract

Norwegian company Aker Solutions has won a $100 million contract to supply subsea umbilicals to the Gorgon gas project.
Around 264km of steel tube umbilicals will be supplied to Gorgon in order to connect the subsea production system to a liquified natural gas plant.
The umbilicals will be manufactured in Moss, Norway.