United Voice

Our friends in the mining union (CFMEU) have put together this little video, making clear that as workers in the mining industry they support the new tax and have heard all the scare campaigns before:

LHMU members know that they perform essential services that the whole community relies on, so it frustrates them that continue to be low-paid and undervalued. Even though they are working harder and for longer hours, they never seem to get their fair share of the nation's wealth. When they hear in the media about Australia's strong economy and big business profits, LHMU members think "the big cats at the top are making all the profits…and the workers are less important and are losing their jobs." (Cleaning and security, Sydney)

The Rudd Labor Government is trying to give all Australian's their fair share of this nation's wealth. This is only fair, considering Australia's natural resources – like coal, iron ore and gold – are the property of all the Australian people.

There has been lots of attention in the media and advertisements by mining companies trying to pretend that the proposed 40% tax on the massive, super profits of mining companies is going to be bad for the Australian economy. This just isn't true; the money raised from the tax will help fund better infrastructure for all Australians, support small businesses so can they offer better pay and conditions to staff, and most importantly boost the superannuation guarantee to 12% - ensuring that all Australian's have enough money to retire on.

Australia's top economists like Bernie Fraser, former head of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Dr Ken Henry, Head of the Australian Treasury and Professor Ross Garnaut, all strongly support the introduction of the new tax system. The only people who oppose it are the billionaire mining bosses – they are worried about their own profits and not the interests of working people. Of course they oppose the tax – it might meant mean that some of the multi-million dollars they earn every year instead goes to supporting low-paid workers like LHMU members.

LHMU members have stood together and demanded professional wages in childcare, a fair share in aged care, cleanstart agreements that guarantee fair wages and more support for low paid workers. If we stand united and strong with the Rudd Labor Government as it tries to re-structure our taxation system, we can win funding for fair wages, better conditions and a secure retirement.