❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum about the significant decline in drilling exploration in WA and asks if new policies will be implemented to reverse this trend. The Minister defends the government's support for the mining sector and suggests the opposition review its policies.
AnsweredQoN 237Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESOURCES SECTOR — EXPLORATION —
DRILLING POLICIES
237. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum:
Noting the minister's answer
outlining the existing policies of his agency, introduced by the former
minister, that have seen drilling exploration in Western Australia fall from
$573 million in 2012–13 to only $250.8 million in 2014–15, and
continuing to decline now, does the minister have any new policies for this
agency to encourage this dramatic downturn to be overcome, or is he satisfied
to continue with the policies that led to a 55 per cent reduction —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I must say I am losing track of the question, member for
Cannington.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : Noting the minister's answer a moment ago in which
he explained the policies introduced by the former minister that have seen $573
million of expenditure reduced to only $250 million of expenditure on
exploration in Western Australia and continuing to decline, does the minister
have any new policies that will reverse this decline, or is he happy to
continue with the policies that have seen a 55 per cent reduction in
exploration activity in Western Australia?
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. Nahan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you. We have got the question, but you are going to be the
first one off the rank, Treasurer. I call you to order for the first time.
DRILLING POLICIES
237. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum:
Noting the minister's answer
outlining the existing policies of his agency, introduced by the former
minister, that have seen drilling exploration in Western Australia fall from
$573 million in 2012–13 to only $250.8 million in 2014–15, and
continuing to decline now, does the minister have any new policies for this
agency to encourage this dramatic downturn to be overcome, or is he satisfied
to continue with the policies that led to a 55 per cent reduction —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I must say I am losing track of the question, member for
Cannington.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON : Noting the minister's answer a moment ago in which
he explained the policies introduced by the former minister that have seen $573
million of expenditure reduced to only $250 million of expenditure on
exploration in Western Australia and continuing to decline, does the minister
have any new policies that will reverse this decline, or is he happy to
continue with the policies that have seen a 55 per cent reduction in
exploration activity in Western Australia?
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. Nahan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you. We have got the question, but you are going to be the
first one off the rank, Treasurer. I call you to order for the first time.
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you, member, and thank you, Mr
Speaker, for allowing me to get to my feet to again explain how this side of
the chamber is a friend of the mining community; and we will continue to be a friend
of the mining community through all of the measures that I have already
outlined to the member opposite. Can I just add that while the member is asking
me to look for policies that can support mining, can I suggest to the member
opposite that some of the policies that are on the opposition's policy
platform that do not support the mining sector be reviewed.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Name one!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Such as its position on uranium, and such as its
position on hydraulic fracturing, member.
Speaker, for allowing me to get to my feet to again explain how this side of
the chamber is a friend of the mining community; and we will continue to be a friend
of the mining community through all of the measures that I have already
outlined to the member opposite. Can I just add that while the member is asking
me to look for policies that can support mining, can I suggest to the member
opposite that some of the policies that are on the opposition's policy
platform that do not support the mining sector be reviewed.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Name one!
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Such as its position on uranium, and such as its
position on hydraulic fracturing, member.
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