❓ A parliamentary question regarding the decline in WA's gold resources and the government's plan to encourage greenfield exploration. The Minister acknowledges the decline and outlines existing support schemes and reviews of compliance costs.
AnsweredQoN 1008Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GOLD —
GREENFIELD EXPLORATION
1008. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister
for Mines and Petroleum:
(1) Will the
minister confirm the report on Geoscience Australia's website that in
2014 Western Australia's economic demonstrated resources of gold
decreased by 358 tonnes, a decline of 9.22 per cent?
(2) Has the minister any current
information proving that this decline has been reversed since 2014?
(3) Can the
minister confirm the report in the Kalgoorlie Miner on 18 October that
Dr Jon Hronsky of Western Mining Services says a new way forward is needed to
arrest a long-term decline in quality greenfield exploration?
(4) Has the
government a plan to encourage greenfield exploration by reducing compliance
costs or by any other means?
The PRESIDENT : I think that question is actually
directed to the Minister for Regional Development.
GREENFIELD EXPLORATION
1008. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister
for Mines and Petroleum:
(1) Will the
minister confirm the report on Geoscience Australia's website that in
2014 Western Australia's economic demonstrated resources of gold
decreased by 358 tonnes, a decline of 9.22 per cent?
(2) Has the minister any current
information proving that this decline has been reversed since 2014?
(3) Can the
minister confirm the report in the Kalgoorlie Miner on 18 October that
Dr Jon Hronsky of Western Mining Services says a new way forward is needed to
arrest a long-term decline in quality greenfield exploration?
(4) Has the
government a plan to encourage greenfield exploration by reducing compliance
costs or by any other means?
The PRESIDENT : I think that question is actually
directed to the Minister for Regional Development.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for notice of the
question. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum.
(1) Yes.
(2) I refer the
member to Geoscience Australia's ''Australian Resource Reviews:
Gold 2016'', which reported that in 2015 Australia's economic
demonstrated resources increased by 456 tonnes, with the largest growth
occurring in Western Australia, up 330 tonnes.
(3) Yes.
(4) The McGowan
government has secured the exploration incentive scheme that supports the
exploration and development of the mining sector across WA, with gold explorers
a major beneficiary. The Geoscience data from the EIS is freely accessible,
benefiting all Western Australian prospectors and exploration companies,
allowing them to continue to discover Western Australia's gold
reserves. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety is also in
the process of reviewing compliance costs for the exploration sector.
question. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum.
(1) Yes.
(2) I refer the
member to Geoscience Australia's ''Australian Resource Reviews:
Gold 2016'', which reported that in 2015 Australia's economic
demonstrated resources increased by 456 tonnes, with the largest growth
occurring in Western Australia, up 330 tonnes.
(3) Yes.
(4) The McGowan
government has secured the exploration incentive scheme that supports the
exploration and development of the mining sector across WA, with gold explorers
a major beneficiary. The Geoscience data from the EIS is freely accessible,
benefiting all Western Australian prospectors and exploration companies,
allowing them to continue to discover Western Australia's gold
reserves. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety is also in
the process of reviewing compliance costs for the exploration sector.
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