Prime Minister Anthony Albanese received a cold welcome at the annual parliamentary dinner for the mining industry.

Tensions between the government and the sector were reportedly on full display, with Minerals Council chief executive Tania Constable criticising the government's industrial relations reforms for bringing conflict “to every workplace in every industry”.

She said government policies are jeopardising Australia's resources future.

Ms Constable accused the government of pushing “reckless” reforms, implementing state “royalty raids”, and introducing “onerous” environmental rules. 

She believes these measures are increasing costs and deterring investment, undermining the sector's global competitiveness.

“The cumulative effect is having a profound impact on the viability of projects,” she said, adding that every new regulation, tax, and layer of complexity weakened Australia's standing against international competitors.

This exchange highlights the growing divide between Labor and the mining industry. 

Resources Minister Madeleine King recently accused BHP of consistently opposing Labor policies, particularly those aimed at union cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Mr Albanese defended his government's efforts, including tax credits designed to boost the critical minerals sector, which the Coalition has criticised as “corporate welfare”. 

However, the prime minister argued the credits were in the national interest, rewarding success in key sectors.

“Tax credits built on rewarding success... serve the national interest,” he told the audience, which included Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

Ms Constable said “all the incentives in the world, all the choruses of support, won't matter if the basics aren't right”. 

She stressed the need for stability, warning that current reforms were dragging the industry “back to the failed ways of the past”.

“Any attack on the Pilbara is an attack on the entire mining sector,” she said, also raising alarm about policies affecting Queensland coal revenues. 

She reminded the audience of mining's $74 billion contribution to the 2022-23 federal budget, warning; “Undermine it at your peril”.

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