1 So Fortescue Metals is threatening a constitutional challenge against the Mineral Resource Rent Tax, passed by the Parliament in late March. This is unsurprising: Andrew Forrest has been vocally opposed to the deal negotiated between Prime Minister Gillard and the big mining companies from its inception. And why shouldn’t it? Fortescue Metals has nothing to lose (except some money on legal bills). It is however surprising that Western Australia has indicated that it will support the challenge. Western Australia is now looking to the newly elected LNP Government in Queensland to join the challenge as well. However, the States are not private litigants. Institutionally, they have far more to lose than some money on legal bills. …
Keep reading …
- by University of Adelaide’s Gabrielle Appleby – first published April 2012[↩]