BHP Billiton Limited
(ASX:BHP) has issued a warning over a possible strike of tugboat workers at Australia’s largest port, Port Hedland in Western Australia.
The global miner has described the potential industrial action as irresponsible and estimated it will cost suppliers who ship out of Port Hedland about $100 million per day.
The company has also claimed significant royalty and tax revenue will be lost to the Western Australian and federal governments.
BHP says it is not able to make up lost volume of this nature and governments cannot recover these lost royalties and taxes.
Fortescue Metals Group Limited
(ASX:FMG) CEO Nev Power has added to the warnings and called for reform to what he describes as outdated industrial laws.
BHP Billiton reported a net profit of $9.9 billion in the first half of the 2014 financial year.
