Latest News
Catch up on the latest news and insights from Atlas.
BHP chief Mike Henry warns the Govt’s IR policy will make Australia less competitive
BHP boss Mike Henry has doubled down on criticism of the Federal Government’s crackdown on labour hire laws, arguing it is taking Australia in the “wrong direction” and will make the country less competitive. “An industrial relations system that delivers productivity, flexibility, and competitiveness to drive job creation and wage growth. Predictability and reduced risk. Under those conditions, the capital will flow,” Mr Henry told the World Mining Conference. “Worryingly, some policies are taking us in the wrong direction and are going to make Australia less competitive: this includes recent and proposed changes to industrial relations legislation, particularly the same job same pay legislation and multi-employer bargaining.”
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WA supercharges the surplus to $19 billion
Strong commodity prices and WA’s powerhouse resources sector have played an “outsized” role in boosting the Federal Government’s coffers, with the Budget surplus ballooning to $19 billion at the end of May. New figures from the Department of Finance show a surge in company and personal tax payments underwriting a stronger than expected result. Receipts from the resources sector was one of the biggest contributors. Mr Albanese argued strong export links would be paramount to ensure unemployment levels remained low. “One in four Australian jobs depend on international trade and that ratio is only going to increase as the economic transformation under way in our region, the fastest growing region of the world in human history, gathers pace,” he told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce on Friday.
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Heritage laws need careful study: Rinehart
Gina Rinehart says adding a granny flat to a large backyard could be held up by contentious Indigenous heritage laws set to come into effect in Western Australia next month. Mrs Rinehart joins critics of the proposal who have described it as "shambolic" and said it would probably hold up new mines and food production. Australia's richest person also hit out at the federal government's plan to boost immigration, saying it had no mandate for the policy and should instead ease restrictions on the hours worked by pensioners and students.
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How one family helped to shape WA | The untold history of Western Australia
The modern history of the Hancocks is well known but earlier generations also had a big impact on our State’s development It is quite a picture. The striking white horses kick up dust as they work in unison to pull the coach through the WA outback. Five men sit atop the coach and a lone rider keeps pace alongside. The photo presents a fascinating reminder of how once supplies, mail and people were carried across vast stretches of WA.
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Atlas delighted again to support the Lake Karrinyup Country Club (Inc) Women’s Charity Day
The charity day raises funds for various charities which this year included Parkerville Children and Youth Care, Ngala and Spectrum Space. An amazing $55,000 was raised making it Lake Karrinyup Country Club’s most successful charity day! Congratulation to all those who organised and participated in the event.
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Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act (2023) causing angst for farmers and miners
WA LEGAL firms and mining companies have reacted to the imminent introduction of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act (2023) by staging their own information sessions and creating online resources to inform farmers, pastoralists and mining interests about the impact of the new legislation on their activities. The act comes into effect on July 1 and has far-reaching implications for farmers and pastoralists, including the likelihood of higher penalties for breaches. The Pastoralists and Graziers’ Association of WA and WAFarmers oppose the new act and say it will be costly and time-consuming for farmers.
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New laws likely to ‘bring agriculture to a halt’ in State
A respected WA pastoralist says her family will have to scrap years of planned works under the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, claiming the legislation will “bring agriculture to a halt”. The 2022 WA Rural Woman of the Year finalist said she was also concerned the legislation, while giving Aboriginal people more say in managing their cultural heritage, disregarded the multi-generational knowledge and connection to country many pastoralists have inherited. “We’ve had the place for five generations, so we are well aware of any cultural heritage on the property,” Ms Dowden told Countryman. “We would never disturb something of significance; we hold it as precious to our hearts as any Indigenous person would, and we never underestimate the value of that.
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Farmers fear costly red tape could hamper tasks
Farmers fear their ability to do basic tasks like fencing or deep ripping will become tangled in costly red tape when important new legislation designed to protect WA’s Aboriginal cultural heritage takes effect next month. The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 was passed through State Parliament in late December in the wake of Rio Tinto’s infamous blasting of Juukan Gorge more than two years earlier.
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Building a better Australia together.
We are dedicated to building a better Australia alongside our skilled veterans. Join us in creating a stronger future for our country through rewarding mining or agriculture careers. Contact James Hepworth Principal Veteran Employment Program veterans@royhill.com.au Or visit: Veterans4Jobs website: https://www.veterans4jobs.com.au/
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Health concern sees Gina Rinehart cover her face during awards speech after she was crowned Western Australian of the year
Billionaire Gina Rinehart has issued a life-saving reminder to Australians about the need to protect themselves from the sun.Mrs Rinehart, 69, had left hospital just hours before after undergoing a minor surgery recently to remove a melanoma from her face and partially covered her bruised face behind a large white fan. 'I should probably remind you all, please do the sun cream, do the hats and do the check-ups, please, which I didn't do,' she said.Mrs Rinehart accepted her award from the outgoing WA premier Mark McGowan in what was his last engagement as the state's leader after last week announcing he was stepping down because he was 'exhausted'.
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MEDIA RELEASE | MCA Congratulates Mrs Gina Rinehart AO
The MCA congratulates Mrs Gina Rinehart AO who was named Western Australian of the Year in Perth last night in recognition of her generous philanthropy and unrivalled corporate success. Mrs Rinehart has made an extraordinary contribution to Western Australia and the rest of the nation via her extensive and very successful business ventures in mining and agriculture, and her significant financial contribution to various causes supporting medical, educational, sporting, health and community organisations. It is a well-deserved honour for Mrs Rinehart who is a passionate advocate of the resources industry and its contribution to Australia.
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Gina Rinehart reaches significant milestone
Gina Rinehart has been announced as this year’s Western Australian of the Year. Rinehart was also awarded the 2023 Business Award. As reported by WA Today, Rinehart used her acceptance speech to reflect on what the company has achieved. “It’s actually a very long way from where my family company was 30 years ago and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved in this time for our company and what we’ve been able to contribute to West Australia and our country and our future,” Rinehart said. “We must ensure that our country is not left behind by short-sighted decisions and encourage policies that welcome investment in our wonderful state,” Rinehart said.
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Rinehart named as 2023 Western Australian of the Year
HANCOCK Prospecting chair Gina Rinehart has been announced as the 2023 Western Australian of the Year. Rinehart was honoured for her contribution to business, as well as her philanthropy, which ranges from support for breast cancer research to sponsorship of Australian Olympians. "We must ensure that our country is not left behind by short-sighted decisions and encourage policies that welcome investment in our wonderful state," Rinehart said when accepting the award.
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Happy West Australia Day!
Very Happy West Australia day, all fellow West Australians. Gina Rinehart and teams.
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‘Greatest Australian woman’: Agriculture and mining magnate Gina Rinehart praised
Geologist Ian Plimer says agriculture and mining run Australia, but the industries have been attacked by bureaucrats for decades. Mr Plimer’s comments come after businesswoman Gina Rinehart was awarded Western Australian of the Year. “She’s the greatest Australian woman this country has ever produced, perhaps the greatest Australian this country has ever produced,” Mr Plimer said. “If it were not for what she has done, we would have lost some of the icons in this country, such as the Kidman Company. “She has been a huge supporter of the agricultural industry; she has started mines in places where there were previously no mines.”
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‘Please do the sun cream’: Gina Rinehart’s powerful message post cancer scare
Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart delivered a potentially lifesaving reminder to all Australians after being crowned Western Australian of the Year 2023. The richest woman in the country used her acceptance speech to open up about a recent cancer scare, with the 69-year-old undergoing a facial melanoma removal just hours before the event. Ms Rinehart attended the gala dinner held at Perth’s Crown Ballroom on Friday night, wearing an elegant off-white gown accessorised with a fan to cover bruising on the right side of her face.
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Rinehart the pride of WA
When Gina Rinehart took over Hancock Prospecting after the death of her father Lang Hancock in 1992, she inherited a company on the brink. Far from the powerhouse it is today, Hancock Prospecting had significant debts, and many of its assets were under mortgage. West Australians know well how the story goes from here (even if some east coast pundits prefer to ignore it). Mrs Rinehart has worked tirelessly in the three decades since to transform her family business into the most successful private company in Australia’s history.
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