<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>BHP is slashing 750 jobs across Queensland due to the "unsustainable impact" of the Queensland government's mining royalties, but the union says workers are being used as a "pawn" in their spat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) will also mothball operations at Saraji South, one of Australia's largest mines, in the Bowen Basin from November in what is the site's second shuttering.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It will review its own FutureFit Academy in Mackay, a training centre that helps young people enter the industry.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/household-electricity-bills-soared-faster-than-inflation-new-iselect-data/3592c382-efe9-4c91-bc2c-d95a7fd51f02" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Bills skyrocket faster than inflation as Aussies suffer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The mining giant blamed its decision on the high royalties on business returns when it told workers of the changes this morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>BMA asset president Adam Lancey said the group did not want to see jobs lost and operations paused, but these were "necessary decisions in the face of the combined impact of the Queensland government's unsustainable coal royalties and market conditions".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The simple fact is the Queensland coal industry is approaching a crisis point," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bhp-alliance-axes-750-jobs-blames-queensland-governments-mining-royalties/f9a1e1bc-8756-417c-ab8d-65a884583d77" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is now having real impacts on regional jobs, communities and small businesses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The uncertainty this creates for our people and our communities is not taken lightly, and we will do everything we can to support them."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Premier David Crisafulli inherited mining royalty rates from the former Miles government and has refused to introduce any amendments to the legislation, which he says is locked in until at least 2029-30.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The royalty rates are a percentage of the average price per tonne of a mineral sold that mining companies must pay, with coal delivering billions of revenue for the state government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the government was "not at war" with the mining sector but added that the LNP promised not to change the royalty regime before being elected.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've stuck by the election commitment, so it's no surprise to BHP, a multibillion-dollar company. That was our commitment to the people of Queensland," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/medibank-cash-back-millions-australians-to-recieve-extra-payment/f0102e7a-01d4-44e0-bb9e-62aa6c752609" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Millions of Australians to receive extra cash payment</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bleijie labelled BMA's review into the FutureFit Academy in Mackay as "unAustralian".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think they should keep investing," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They have made billions of dollars from the resources owned by Queensland taxpayers and Queenslanders, and they should keep investing in the future of young people who want a job in a mine or a resource sector in Queensland."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Mining Energy Union said BHP blaming royalties was "disingenous" as higher prices lead to higher rates of royalties and said the company was "sulking" over having to share profits with the state.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Coal prices have come back to more normal levels, but to fear-monger about a 'crisis' in coal is misleading and frankly shameful behaviour from BHP," Mining Energy Union Queensland president Mitch Hughes said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our high-quality coal belongs to all Queenslanders, not to BHP.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If BHP want to focus on other parts of their business, they should get out of the way and let someone else operate these great central Queensland mines."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hughes went further to accuse BHP of using workers as "pawns" in its disagreement with the Queensland government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Workers need facts, certainty and security – not alarmism," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>BHP's underlying attributable profit was $15.27 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, excluding the $10.5 billion it paid in Australian taxes, royalties and other payments.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-cbd-push-to-reduce-speed-limit-to-30km/4c26b8b2-38f8-4baa-9fd9-058b09b5b427" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Push to reduce speed limit in Sydney CBD to 30km/h</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>BHP fighting government on second front</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While BHP battles the royalty system in Queensland, the company is also fighting to prevent the federal government from adopting a cashflow tax proposed by the Productivity Commission in an interim report.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The commission has suggested all companies receive a five per cent cashflow tax and small to medium-sized businesses receive a 20 per cent reduction in their corporate tax.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>BHP responded to the proposal this week, saying Australia's largest companies would "ultimately bear a higher effective tax burden".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is counterproductive," it said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>BHP said the cashflow tax would be a "disincentive" and threatened to pull investment from Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are a proud Australian business and we want to be able to invest more here, but the reality is that capital flows globally and our Australian pipeline of growth projects would be less competitive for capital," it said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Inevitably, this will mean more of our available capital will flow overseas rather than into projects in Australia."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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