❓ The Minister for Mines and Petroleum outlines the WA government's initiatives to encourage exploration in the resources sector, including geological mapping, exploration incentive schemes, co-funded drilling programs, reduced approval times, funding for research, and legislative amendments to reduce red tape.
AnsweredQoN 236Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESOURCES SECTOR — EXPLORATION
236. Dr G.G. JACOBS to the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum:
Can the minister please describe how
the state government is encouraging exploration in the Western Australian
resources sector?
236. Dr G.G. JACOBS to the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum:
Can the minister please describe how
the state government is encouraging exploration in the Western Australian
resources sector?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question;
it is a wonderful question. The mining sector, as we all know, is a vitally
important sector to the people of Western Australia and the people of Australia,
but the sector is going through tough times. We have falling commodity prices
and we have tight capital markets.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Give
the minister a chance!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Thank you for your protection, Mr Speaker.
The member might be aware of the
difficult times the mining sector is facing, but I want the member to
understand what this government has been doing to help through these difficult
times. That was actually the question—about exploration. I want the
member to understand this: in the December quarter, we saw a four per cent
reduction in exploration in this state. At the time we had a four per cent
reduction in exploration in this state, Western Australia still accounted for
58 per cent of exploration in Australia, so exploration in Western Australia
still drives the majority of exploration in Australia, even during these tough
times. What we are doing to continue to support exploration in Western Australia
is fantastic. One of the things we are doing is through the state geological
map. The data that can be drawn from that geological map helps reduce explorers'
costs because they can access that data through either weekly updates or, on
some occasions, daily updates. We have the highly regarded exploration
incentives scheme, which has been running since 2009 and is valued at around
$130 million. The smaller exploration companies certainly benefit from that. We
have also had the recent twelfth round of the co-funded drilling program,
valued at $5.17 million. That has been allocated to up to 48 companies and
prospectors throughout Western Australia. In addition to these great measures,
we have the Department of Mines and Petroleum's own reduction in its
approvals times, and it had a record quarter in that space in the December
quarter. We also continue to fund the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia—a
wonderful institute that is a friend of the miners and certainly helps
exploration. Finally, as all members in this place know, we have the Mining
Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 currently in the other place, which is also
focused on reducing red tape and green tape, streamlining the approvals
processes and making mining easier for our miners and explorers. Let there be
no doubt that the Liberal–National government is a friend of the mining
and exploration sector. That, unfortunately, is not something we can say about
the other side of the house.
it is a wonderful question. The mining sector, as we all know, is a vitally
important sector to the people of Western Australia and the people of Australia,
but the sector is going through tough times. We have falling commodity prices
and we have tight capital markets.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Give
the minister a chance!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Thank you for your protection, Mr Speaker.
The member might be aware of the
difficult times the mining sector is facing, but I want the member to
understand what this government has been doing to help through these difficult
times. That was actually the question—about exploration. I want the
member to understand this: in the December quarter, we saw a four per cent
reduction in exploration in this state. At the time we had a four per cent
reduction in exploration in this state, Western Australia still accounted for
58 per cent of exploration in Australia, so exploration in Western Australia
still drives the majority of exploration in Australia, even during these tough
times. What we are doing to continue to support exploration in Western Australia
is fantastic. One of the things we are doing is through the state geological
map. The data that can be drawn from that geological map helps reduce explorers'
costs because they can access that data through either weekly updates or, on
some occasions, daily updates. We have the highly regarded exploration
incentives scheme, which has been running since 2009 and is valued at around
$130 million. The smaller exploration companies certainly benefit from that. We
have also had the recent twelfth round of the co-funded drilling program,
valued at $5.17 million. That has been allocated to up to 48 companies and
prospectors throughout Western Australia. In addition to these great measures,
we have the Department of Mines and Petroleum's own reduction in its
approvals times, and it had a record quarter in that space in the December
quarter. We also continue to fund the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia—a
wonderful institute that is a friend of the miners and certainly helps
exploration. Finally, as all members in this place know, we have the Mining
Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 currently in the other place, which is also
focused on reducing red tape and green tape, streamlining the approvals
processes and making mining easier for our miners and explorers. Let there be
no doubt that the Liberal–National government is a friend of the mining
and exploration sector. That, unfortunately, is not something we can say about
the other side of the house.
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