A parliamentary question regarding mineral titles processing in Western Australia, including approval rates, application backlogs, and government strategies to address native title issues affecting the mining industry.

AnsweredQoN 757Legislative Council
Asked
14 May 2003
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the Minister to the issue of mineral titles processing and ask -
(1) How many exploration and mining leases did the Government approve in each of the four years from 1999-2000 to 2002-03 inclusive?
(2) How many mineral titles applications for prospecting, exploration and mining leases are awaiting to be processed as at the latest available date?
(3) How do these numbers compare with the status as at February 2001 and can the Minister explain any large variations?
(4) What are the ‘final solutions’ concerning native title, referred to in the Budget papers on page 828 of Volume 3, that are expected to result in increased mining industry activity?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
10 June 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
27 days
(1) Details of exploration titles and mining leases granted in each of the past 4 years are:
Prospecting Exploration Mining
Licence
Licence
Lease
1999/2000 868 971 138
2000/2001 693 653 221
2001/2002 369 493 120
2002/2003 438 539 92
(to 30/4/03)
(2)
&
(3)
Details of exploration titles and mining leases awaiting finalisation as at February 2001 and 30 April 2003 are:
Prospecting Exploration Mining
Licence
Licence
Lease
09.02.01 1743 3052 5333
30.04.03 2615 3625 5090
Prospecting Licence and Exploration Licence numbers increased in the period leading up to the High Court handing down its decision (8 August 2002) on appeal in case of
Ward –v- Western Australia
on whether the enclosure of pastoral leasehold land extinguished native title.
(4) Two Working Groups with membership from relevant Government Departments, mining industry/prospector/resource lawyers, peak groups and Native Title Representative Bodies are in the process of:
i) reporting to Government with recommendations for amendments to the
Mining Act, 1978
which will facilitate a reduction of the current backlog of mining lease applications and address the cause of the backlog; and
ii) developing agreed Regional Heritage Protocol Agreements which will result in protection of Aboriginal Heritage and facilitate the early grant of mineral exploration titles.

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