❓ A Member of Parliament questions the Premier about job losses in her electorate due to rejected mining projects, specifically the Edna May mine expansion and iron ore mines in the Helena and Aurora Ranges. The Premier defends the decisions based on environmental concerns, particularly the potential extinction of native plant species.
AnsweredQoN 373Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EDNA MAY MINE
373. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the government's
decision to reject an expansion of the Edna May mine in my electorate, which
will cost 100 local jobs. Given this latest decision comes on top of the 400
jobs lost when the Premier rejected two new iron ore mines in the Helena and
Aurora Ranges, can he explain to the people of my electorate whether his jobs
plan includes them, or is it just for city people?
373. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the government's
decision to reject an expansion of the Edna May mine in my electorate, which
will cost 100 local jobs. Given this latest decision comes on top of the 400
jobs lost when the Premier rejected two new iron ore mines in the Helena and
Aurora Ranges, can he explain to the people of my electorate whether his jobs
plan includes them, or is it just for city people?
AnswerView source ↗
That is a serious question. The
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has told the proponents of
that gold mine expansion that the submission that it put in was not
appropriate, considering that it would most likely lead to the extinction of a Western
Australian native plant species that is found nowhere else. It told the proponent
to come back with another plan—reduce the size, reduce the scale,
construct it differently—to ensure that that plant species does not
become extinct. That is the advice that I have received on this matter.
In relation to the Helena and
Aurora Ranges, it was a similar sort of theme. I support the mining industry. I
think that is on record. I answered a question a moment ago about the Sino iron
ore project. I have regularly answered questions about iron ore, gas and other
projects across Western Australia, for which we have exhibited our support. But
I do not like the idea that species of native flora—or fauna for that
matter—will become extinct if we allow certain projects. We need to
have careful environmental management around those things, which is what we are
doing. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety—not the
Environmental Protection Authority or the Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions—has made the decision about the clearing
permit. I would not say that it is not pro-mining, but it is careful about
those sorts of issues. I am more than happy to say that there will be ongoing
discussions and negotiations to try to reach an outcome that meets the
interests of everybody, but I am very uncomfortable with the idea that a species
would become extinct.
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has told the proponents of
that gold mine expansion that the submission that it put in was not
appropriate, considering that it would most likely lead to the extinction of a Western
Australian native plant species that is found nowhere else. It told the proponent
to come back with another plan—reduce the size, reduce the scale,
construct it differently—to ensure that that plant species does not
become extinct. That is the advice that I have received on this matter.
In relation to the Helena and
Aurora Ranges, it was a similar sort of theme. I support the mining industry. I
think that is on record. I answered a question a moment ago about the Sino iron
ore project. I have regularly answered questions about iron ore, gas and other
projects across Western Australia, for which we have exhibited our support. But
I do not like the idea that species of native flora—or fauna for that
matter—will become extinct if we allow certain projects. We need to
have careful environmental management around those things, which is what we are
doing. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety—not the
Environmental Protection Authority or the Department of Biodiversity,
Conservation and Attractions—has made the decision about the clearing
permit. I would not say that it is not pro-mining, but it is careful about
those sorts of issues. I am more than happy to say that there will be ongoing
discussions and negotiations to try to reach an outcome that meets the
interests of everybody, but I am very uncomfortable with the idea that a species
would become extinct.
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