Scott Morrison praises WA for “keeping Australia’s economy afloat during the pandemic”.
- Scott Morrison last year praised states’ resource industries
- He thanked the state’s industry for helping keep the country’s economy afloat
- Western Australia’s resource sector posted record sales of US$174 billion in 2020
- Andrew Forrest guided him through the Fortescue Metals Group in Christmas Creek
Scott Morrison has praised Western Australia’s resource industries for supporting the economy during one of the country’s toughest years.
The prime minister flew to Washington’s Pilbara region on Thursday, where he toured Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek mining operations with billionaire Andrew Forrest.
Mr. Morrison inspected an ore processing facility, climbed into an autonomous truck and was shown a massive solar farm that helps power Christmas Creek and the nearby Cloudbreak mines.
The Prime Minister was given a tour of Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek mining operations (pictured Thursday).
WA’s resource sector reported record sales of $174 billion in 2020 and a record 140,940 people work in the industry.
“One of the reasons I was so excited to come to WA this week was to say thank you to the Western Australians,” Morrison told reporters.
“The revenue you have been able to generate during one of Australia’s toughest years has kept our economy afloat.
“As Australia’s economy emerges from this COVID pandemic recession, a large part of our thanks goes to the resource industry, particularly here in Western Australia.”
Scott Morrison thanked WA’s resource industry for supporting the economy in 2020
Fortescue has set a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and exceeding Australia’s goal of “preferably” achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The company’s commitment to renewable energy at Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak will replace 100 million liters of diesel per year.
“I’m very passionate and proud of what Australians are doing to transform the technology that enables them to achieve great things,” said Mr. Morrison.
“And energy is central to that, it’s what drives our economy – it always has – and we need to change gears in the next 30 years. And that is exactly what is happening.”
Mr Morrison was due to meet with workers at a mining camp on Thursday evening.
He will travel to Kalbarri on Friday to inspect the widespread damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Seroja.
Fortescue Metals Group has set itself the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030
