Regional mining towns are the backbone of our economy, contributing over 11% to our annual national GDP. 

But the impacts of boom-bust mining cycles have a severe impact on housing affordability in these communities, causing people to hesitate to buy property and relocate, creating a real barrier to developing a local residential workforce and vibrant and thriving communities. 

As the engine-rooms of our economy, proud mining cities and towns deserve stability. Too long have backs been turned on the challenges affecting liveability in our communities. 

We’re saying enough is enough. It’s time to even the playing field and look after our regional mining communities by changing the Fringe Benefits Tax to address housing affordability. 

Our proposed More than Mining tax reform cuts straight to the core. We propose to expand Fringe Benefits Tax concessions from 50% to 100% for individuals in regional mining communities, meaning that people could buy a house, or rent a house, completely with pre-tax dollars – lowering their taxable income and leaving them with more money to cover living costs. 

Sign this petition to support our call to expand Fringe Benefits Tax concessions. Together, we can help our regional mining towns and cities become independent of resource-sector employers for housing and liveability.  

If you agree, sign this petition to tell the government to prioritise this issue in the upcoming federal election. 

About me: Brendon Grylls 
Having been a Karratha local with my family for over 15 years, I have seen first-hand the effects of the boom-bust cycle on the Pilbara community. 

As a long-time advocate for regional Australians, I drove the Royalties for Regions policy in 2008 – a policy that injected much-needed funding back into the communities that are the strongest contributors to our nation’s economic prosperity. 

Now, it’s time to transform our regional mining towns and cities into vibrant, thriving communities that are sustainable beyond a commodities boom. 

In a partnership never before achieved, a consortium of 10 regional mining community councils have banded together, with support from the KDCCI and Australian Mining Cities Alliance, to support the More Than Mining campaign, highlighting just how imperative this policy is to these cities and towns. 

To date, the following organisations have backed the campaign:

• Karratha & Districts Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KDCCI) 
• Regional Development Australia (RDA) Pilbara 
• Australian Mining Cities Alliance (AMCA), as the representative body for:  
  
  • City of Karratha 
  • City of Kalgoorlie Boulder 
  • Isaac Regional Council 
  • Mount Isa City Council 
  • Broken Hill City Council 
• With additional support from partnering remote mining LGAs:  
  • Shire of East Pilbara 
  • Town of Port Hedland 
  • Shire of Ashburton 
  • Shire of Coolgardie
  • Shire of Leonora

Please join us in calling on the Treasurer, the Hon Josh Frydenburg MP, to reform our Fringe Benefits Tax policy and finally support the people of regional mining communities, who have propped up our national economy for so long. 

Thank you for adding your voice to support regional Australians, 
Brendon Grylls