Writing in the
SMH he says
If one more person looks me in the eye and talks about sovereign risk and the new resources tax, I swear I'll strangle them.
Let's get it straight. Even by the loosest definition, modifying the tax system in the manner proposed by the federal government does not in any way endanger the national ability to repay debt.
Nor will it endanger the ability of resources companies to meet their commitments.
And that, dear reader, is the definition of sovereign risk.
I think he is being too kind, some of the actors in this drama have a
history of loose talk;
TICKY FULLERTON: Joe Gutnick blames Forrest for the downfall of his company Centaur.
He claims Forrest reneged on a $20 million investment in his nickel project.
Gutnick won his case in court, the judge calling Forrest an 'untruthful' witness.
Anaconda is appealing, but it's not the only time judges have singled out Forrest.
In a litigious career, a judge said, he would achieve commercial ends even if it involved threats and falsehoods.
And just two weeks ago, another judge called him 'quite untruthful'.
ANDREW FORREST: People who know me very well, um -- would completely deny that.
But the hurt comes from, um -- the fact that those same commentators have ignored other judgments where I've been found to be very truthful and a very reliable witness.
TICKY FULLERTON: So as far as you're concerned -- I mean, the courts have -- have been wrong, have got -- have somehow seen a side of you which does not exist?
ANDREW FORREST: Well, the courts have been persuaded by a very clever Queen's Counsel acting for, say, Gutnick and, um, and have -- have reached a totally false conclusion.
TICKY FULLERTON: Forrest has also had fall-outs with some of his early business partners.
WARWICK GRIGOR: To put it simply, if you're his partner, you're running with the wolves and you don't know where the wolves are going to take you.
Andrew has a cavalier attitude that if he keeps running hard enough, nothing will catch up with him, so why worry?
