❓ Opposition questions the government on the impact of a strategic review of banded iron formation ranges on mining accessibility. The Minister deflects, stating the framework provides guidance, not restrictions, and applications can still be made.
AnsweredQoN 1009Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
“STRATEGIC REVIEW OF BANDED IRON FORMATION RANGES OF THE MIDWEST GOLDFIELDS”
I refer the minister to the summary of the “Strategic Review of Banded Iron Formation Ranges of the Midwest Goldfields” released on 24 October. (1) Will the minister indicate the total area covered by the review? (2) How much of that area would be made inaccessible for mining under the government’s intentions as outlined on points 1-7 on pages 8 and 9, and points 1-3 under “Key Principles”, also on page 9? (3) Does the government have any estimates of the amount of iron ore and any other mineral deposits that would be locked away under the strategic framework? Hon KIM CHANCE
I refer the minister to the summary of the “Strategic Review of Banded Iron Formation Ranges of the Midwest Goldfields” released on 24 October. (1) Will the minister indicate the total area covered by the review? (2) How much of that area would be made inaccessible for mining under the government’s intentions as outlined on points 1-7 on pages 8 and 9, and points 1-3 under “Key Principles”, also on page 9? (3) Does the government have any estimates of the amount of iron ore and any other mineral deposits that would be locked away under the strategic framework? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
(1) Will the minister indicate the total area covered by the review? (2) How much of that area would be made inaccessible for mining under the government’s intentions as outlined on points 1-7 on pages 8 and 9, and points 1-3 under “Key Principles”, also on page 9? (3) Does the government have any estimates of the amount of iron ore and any other mineral deposits that would be locked away under the strategic framework? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
(2) How much of that area would be made inaccessible for mining under the government’s intentions as outlined on points 1-7 on pages 8 and 9, and points 1-3 under “Key Principles”, also on page 9? (3) Does the government have any estimates of the amount of iron ore and any other mineral deposits that would be locked away under the strategic framework? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
(3) Does the government have any estimates of the amount of iron ore and any other mineral deposits that would be locked away under the strategic framework? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
(2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
(1) Will the minister indicate the total area covered by the review? (2) How much of that area would be made inaccessible for mining under the government’s intentions as outlined on points 1-7 on pages 8 and 9, and points 1-3 under “Key Principles”, also on page 9? (3) Does the government have any estimates of the amount of iron ore and any other mineral deposits that would be locked away under the strategic framework? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
(2) How much of that area would be made inaccessible for mining under the government’s intentions as outlined on points 1-7 on pages 8 and 9, and points 1-3 under “Key Principles”, also on page 9? (3) Does the government have any estimates of the amount of iron ore and any other mineral deposits that would be locked away under the strategic framework? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
(3) Does the government have any estimates of the amount of iron ore and any other mineral deposits that would be locked away under the strategic framework? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. I am advised by the Minister for Resources that it is not possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The minister asks the honourable Leader of the Opposition to place the question on notice. (2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
(2)-(3) As Minister for the Mid West, I am capable of answering parts of (2) and (3). The assumptions that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition about what the strategic framework can and does do are incorrect; namely, the assumptions imply that areas are locked away from exploitation because of the application of the strategic framework. The strategic framework in itself does not make the areas available or unavailable, and does not lock areas away. The strategic framework is simply to give guidance to the industry about which areas of those banded iron formations the government might have a predisposition to mining; it does not, effectively, lock anything away. Any area dealt with in any way under the strategic framework can be applied for in terms of exploration licences or mining leases.
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