The significant social and economic benefits generated by Western Australia’s gold mining industry will be highlighted in a public awareness campaign launched today at the 2014 Diggers & Dealers Forum.
The Heart of Gold campaign will feature radio advertising and online and social media, highlighting the vital contribution made by more than 25,000 Western Australians employed in the gold sector.
The campaign explains how gold producers keep WA’s economy strong by paying more than $2.8 billion in wages and more than $300 million in taxes and royalties to the state government each year to help build schools, hospitals, roads and police stations.
Funded by the Gold Royalties Response Group, the campaign also highlights the critical contribution gold mining plays in regional areas.
“Our mines are at the heart of many regional communities across the State and our employees live and work in the regions,” GRRG spokesman and Silver Lake Resources managing director Les Davis said.
“They are riggers and drillers, drivers and blasters, engineers and electricians, payroll officers and safety advisers.
“But they are also mums and dads, brothers and sisters, and they are quite literally the lifeblood of many regional centres.
“They volunteer to drive the local ambulances, coach sporting teams and do school canteen duty and they spend their wages in local shops.
“As gold producers and developers we support our employees’ efforts by investing directly in our local communities to ensure they remain strong and viable.
“This campaign is about sharing that message with all Western Australians.’’
Mr Davis said even though the industry was dealing with high operating costs, tight margins and a lower gold price, it continued to be an important economic driver for the state.
“There is no doubt that many of our gold producers are doing it tough and this is clearly evident in the recent mine closures and downsizing,” he said.
“To remain competitive in a global market, we need stable and competitive tax and royalty arrangements and a healthy flow of capital.
“Investment capital is mobile and Western Australia will put future investments at risk if royalty rates are increased.
“Our state’s history is synonymous with gold and we want to ensure the industry is here for many years to come.”
