In the end, as it turns out, elections do have consequences.<\/p>\n
And when they’re as dramatic as the political earthquake of May 3, they change the country, as this week’s blockbuster environmental law overhaul demonstrates.<\/p>\n
Nearly 15 months ago, the prime minister was the guest of honour at the annual Minerals Council of Australia dinner.<\/p>\n
Held in the Great Hall of Parliament, the event is a fixture on the Canberra calendar.<\/p>\n
It acts as a resolute restatement of the industry’s centrality to the national economy. An often-needed reminder to the political class about where their fiscal bread is buttered.<\/p>\n
Last year’s event \u2014 filled to the brim with the heads of Australia’s biggest and most important mining companies \u2014 took place at a time when miners were still smarting over Labor’s first term industrial relations reforms.<\/p>\n
The entertainment was an opportunity to berate and condemn a Labor prime minister to his face.<\/p>\n
Loading…A moment to remember<\/p>\n
As Anthony Albanese sat at the head table (this correspondent was at the table next to his), the council’s chief executive Tania Constable accused his government of picking a fight with the industry over industrial relations and environmental issues.<\/p>\n
Undermine the industry “at your peril”, she said.<\/p>\n
“We don’t want conflict. But under these new workplace laws, conflict has been brought upon us.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
The broadside was well received by the MCA membership in the room, with attendees congratulating Constable on her tough words.<\/p>\n
Good work. That’ll fix him.<\/p>\n
If dressing down riled him, the prime minister showed no outward signs.<\/p>\n
And when he delivered his speech, which had been pre-circulated to reporters, he didn’t adjust a word to respond to Constable’s pointed attack. A rhetorical version of turning the other cheek.<\/p>\n
Memories of that dinner, just under 15 months ago, were awakened this week as the government closed in on a blockbuster environmental reform deal with the Greens.<\/p>\n
Make no mistake, several people in his inner circles told this column over recent days, Albanese has never forgotten that moment.<\/p>\n
It’s significance is intrinsic to a shift in the power dynamic between Labor and the mining industry. This week’s environmental law reform is its embodiment.<\/p>\n
To be clear, the government did not do a deal with the Greens \u2014 rather than the Coalition, as the mining industry wanted \u2014 out of political revenge for a snub.<\/p>\n
Albanese pushed the Greens to accept amendments that business wanted on approval law.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Murray Watt kept the door open to the Coalition to the end.\u00a0 (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n
‘Pretty good’ for industry\u00a0<\/p>\n
Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief Warren Pearce, who represents small and medium sized miners including critical minerals developers, applauded the reforms, telling 7.30 on Thursday that “it’s pretty good” for his industry.<\/p>\n
But the fact the government landed the deal with Sarah Hanson Young \u2014 and does not fear the electoral consequences of doing so \u2014 points to an erosion in the resource industry’s ability to set the political terms.<\/p>\n
This is no small thing.<\/p>\n
During the Rudd and Gillard governments, the MCA’s chief executive Mitch Hook was a feared kingmaker.<\/p>\n