❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources' (DMPR) oversight of mining rehabilitation, funding, and enforcement practices following a newspaper article. The Minister's response clarifies the DMPR's regulatory approach and provides some data on enforcement actions.
AnsweredQoN 327Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a newspaper article titled ‘Growing focus on life after mining’ which appeared in the
Kalgoorlie Miner
newspaper, Saturday, November 23 2002 pages 21 and 23 -
(1) Is it correct that Mr Bill Biggs from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources defends the Department against comments that it is under funded and does not have the resources to check on rehabilitation work, instead relying on a system of self-reporting?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister explain the specific reasons why it is not under funded and does the Department have the resources to thoroughly check on all rehabilitation and carry out detailed and thorough investigations/inspections on breaches of the
Mining Act
and Regulations?
(3) If no to (1), why did Mr Bill Biggs state what he did to the
Kalgoorlie Miner
newspaper?
(4) Can the Minister explain what Mr Bill Biggs means when he has stated ‘The grapevine is good too. There are not too many cases where something happens we don’t find out about’?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Is it correct that the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) pursues a non prosecution policy, pressuring miners to fix any breaches of their obligations and issuing stop work orders on sites if work is not carried out?
(7) If yes to (6), on what date did the DMPR commence this non-prosecution policy?
(8) Can the Minister state how the DMPR specifically pressure miners to fix any breaches of their obligations?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister state how many stop work orders have been issued and to whom in the last five years?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) Can the Minister state how many in number are the companies that need to put more work in?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
Kalgoorlie Miner
newspaper, Saturday, November 23 2002 pages 21 and 23 -
(1) Is it correct that Mr Bill Biggs from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources defends the Department against comments that it is under funded and does not have the resources to check on rehabilitation work, instead relying on a system of self-reporting?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister explain the specific reasons why it is not under funded and does the Department have the resources to thoroughly check on all rehabilitation and carry out detailed and thorough investigations/inspections on breaches of the
Mining Act
and Regulations?
(3) If no to (1), why did Mr Bill Biggs state what he did to the
Kalgoorlie Miner
newspaper?
(4) Can the Minister explain what Mr Bill Biggs means when he has stated ‘The grapevine is good too. There are not too many cases where something happens we don’t find out about’?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Is it correct that the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) pursues a non prosecution policy, pressuring miners to fix any breaches of their obligations and issuing stop work orders on sites if work is not carried out?
(7) If yes to (6), on what date did the DMPR commence this non-prosecution policy?
(8) Can the Minister state how the DMPR specifically pressure miners to fix any breaches of their obligations?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister state how many stop work orders have been issued and to whom in the last five years?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) Can the Minister state how many in number are the companies that need to put more work in?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 December 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
15 days
1 - 9. The context of the comments reported in the article in the Kalgoorlie Miner on November 23 2002 relate to achieving best practice in environmental outcomes by the mining industry in the Goldfields. In that context it was more relevant to describe the regulatory process undertaken by the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources. This process focuses on initially working with industry by providing information, advice and encouragement in the first place followed by the application of the regulatory process if this fails to achieve adequate outcomes. The regulatory process has a hierarchy of actions including work directions and stop work orders, which are used before a prosecution is undertaken. Prosecution is reserved for serious breaches of the Mining Act and Regulations and is only undertaken when in the public interest. The resources of the department are currently focused in this direction. 10. Yes, the numbers are included in the Department's Annual Report. There were 12 work direction and 10 stop work orders reported in that time. 11. N/A 12-13. This was a general statement in the context of the article and as such there are no specific numbers.
10. Yes, the numbers are included in the Department's Annual Report. There were 12 work direction and 10 stop work orders reported in that time. 11. N/A 12-13. This was a general statement in the context of the article and as such there are no specific numbers.
11. N/A 12-13. This was a general statement in the context of the article and as such there are no specific numbers.
12-13. This was a general statement in the context of the article and as such there are no specific numbers.
10. Yes, the numbers are included in the Department's Annual Report. There were 12 work direction and 10 stop work orders reported in that time. 11. N/A 12-13. This was a general statement in the context of the article and as such there are no specific numbers.
11. N/A 12-13. This was a general statement in the context of the article and as such there are no specific numbers.
12-13. This was a general statement in the context of the article and as such there are no specific numbers.
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