Global miner Rio Tinto has expressed the hope the replacement for outgoing Labor government’s Resources Minister Martin Ferguson is across the big issues before making significant decisions.
Mr Ferguson is leaving his post in the wake of last week’s move against Australia’s Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard, which led to the subsequent resignation of several prominent Labor government ministers.
Rio Tinto’s president of Pilbara iron ore operations Greg Lilleyman said Mr Ferguson, who quit cabinet after the leadership vote, was well regarded as a sensible, straightforward sort of guy.
“He seemed to be well aware of the big issues in the industry and the pressures in the industry,” Mr Lilleyman told AAP Newsagency.
“We hope whoever the replacement is, is as well educated as Martin.”
He declined to back any potential replacement but said most candidates would probably not have a background in the mining industry.
“Whoever it is needs to make sure they’re aware of the issues before they start making too many decisions that will impact on us.”
Mr Ferguson’s resignation has been welcomed by green groups who considered him too close to the mining industry.
Mr Lilleyman, who is also president of the West Australia Chamber of Minerals and Energy, said newly appointed conservative Liberal-National state government mines and petroleum minister Bill Marmion was familiar with the resources industry following his most recent stint as state environment minister.
Mr Lilleyman also said Rio, the world’s second biggest iron ore producer, was upbeat about its prospects in coming years despite recent industry pessimism after Goldman Sachs cut its estimate for iron ore prices this year.
“We’re in a strong position in the Pilbara,” he said.
“We’re at the very bottom of the cost curve and not going backwards is our intention, so whatever your forecast for the iron ore price, beyond that we’ll be pretty well positioned.”
