Fortescue's MRRT challenge 'the right decision': Porter

25/06/2012 - West Australian backbencher and federal politics aspirant Christian Porter has congratulated Fortescue Metals Group for its High Court challenge to the Gillard government's mining tax.

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Porter - who was the state's attorney-general and treasurer until 10 days ago - made the comment at a Financial Services Institute of Australasia business function in Perth on Friday in response to a question by Fortescue executive Julian Tapp about the tax.

"From a personal level as a backbencher, well done on making this challenge," Porter said.

"I think this will be a very, very interesting argument to be had for the High Court.

"I think it was the right decision."

Porter - who could not resist the urge to decry WA's diminishing share of the GST carve-up - said 60 per cent of the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) would come from WA but "nothing like that will come back in".

He said he didn't have a lot of faith in the federal government's promises to invest in WA, given it had pledged $100 million for Chevron's Gorgon gas project five years ago and so far had contributed "not a cent".

"My own observation, to be frank about it, is the present Labor government has just given up on this state," Porter said.

"They don't hold a lot of seats here, they'll lose seats here - Western Australia is not pivotal to their long-term electoral prospects - and they've just cut the string."

Porter has nominated for preselection for the federal seat of Pearce on July 15. Pearce is currently held by Judi Moylan, who has announced her intention to quit the seat she first won for the Liberals in 1993.

Source: AAP

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