❓ Ms Davies requests detailed iron ore export and royalty information from BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto between 1980-2017. The Minister declines to provide the data, citing commercial confidentiality and adherence to Mining Regulations.
AnsweredQoN 3294Legislative Assembly
Asked
19 June 2018
Member
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum; Commerce and Industrial Relations; Electoral Affairs; Asian Engagement
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the Minister provide a year-by-year breakdown of Western Australia’s iron ore export tonnages from the operations of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto between 1980 and 2017 for: (a) Fine ore; (b) Iron ore fines; and (c) Lump ore (direct shipping ore)? (2) Will the Minister provide a year-by-year breakdown of royalties paid between 1980 and 2017 by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto for: (a) Fine ore; (b) Iron ore fines; and (c) Lump ore (direct shipping ore)? (3) Will the Minister provide a year-by-year breakdown of additional rent paid between 2011 and 2017 under the provisions of State iron ore export Agreements and section 28A of the Mining Regulations 1981, including: (a) the details of the parties who paid the additional rent and how much was paid by each party?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2018
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Commerce and Industrial Relations; Electoral Affairs; Asian Engagement
Response time
6 days
(1) While the Western Australian Government publishes as much information as possible, there are instances where information is commercially sensitive and is therefore not released.
This approach complies with the Mining Regulations 1981 regulation 95A(2), which states 'Mining statistics are to be compiled in such a way that, so far as is practicable, information in respect of a particular person or mining operation cannot be ascertained’. This approach is consistent with information released by previous governments.
The iron ore export tonnages are provided to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto on a commercial in confidence basis and on the understanding that they will only be used to assess royalties.
(a) – (c) Not applicable
(2) The royalty paid by individual producers is confidential and is not released by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
(a) – (c) Not applicable
(3) Additional rent payments are confidential and are not released by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
(a) Not applicable
This approach complies with the Mining Regulations 1981 regulation 95A(2), which states 'Mining statistics are to be compiled in such a way that, so far as is practicable, information in respect of a particular person or mining operation cannot be ascertained’. This approach is consistent with information released by previous governments.
The iron ore export tonnages are provided to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto on a commercial in confidence basis and on the understanding that they will only be used to assess royalties.
(a) – (c) Not applicable
(2) The royalty paid by individual producers is confidential and is not released by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
(a) – (c) Not applicable
(3) Additional rent payments are confidential and are not released by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
(a) Not applicable
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