Fletcher Speaks Up for Bradfield-Based Company Affected by Mining Tax

A significant supplier of forklifts and bobcats based in Bradfield, employing nearly 500 people, is seriously concerned about the impact on its business by the Rudd government’s mining tax, Paul Fletcher, Federal Member for Bradfield told Parliament today.

Mr Fletcher asked the Prime Minister in question time:

Since the great big new tax on mining was announced, the business has experienced a sharp drop in orders from the mining sector and other regional customers, including half a million dollars of lost business in Western Australia.

When will [the Prime Minister] stop pretending that his new tax is somehow good for the mining industry and listen to the concerns of real people like those at Clark Equipment and dump his job destroying tax?

Mr Fletcher recently visited Clark Equipment in Hornsby, and met with CEO Robert Hammond and other members of the management team.

“This is a very impressive Australian owned company which supplies the mining sector and a range of other regional customers,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Mr Hammond and his colleagues briefed me on the impact on their business of the proposed new mining tax.  

“It is clear that the proposed mining tax is having a damaging impact not just in the mining sector but also on suppliers to that sector, and not just in the regions but also in metropolitan Australia.

“Unfortunately the Prime Minister gave a disappointing non-answer to my question - which offered no comfort at all that he has any understanding of the serious economic damage which his proposed new tax is causing.”

Media contact: Darren Bark, Paul Fletcher’s Office 02 9465 3950