❓ Mr. Buswell questions the Premier about potential compensation claims arising from the government's uranium mining ban and whether financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities. The Premier avoids direct answers, citing cabinet confidentiality and asserting the mining industry is aware of the government's position.
AnsweredQoN 120Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
URANIUM MINING - COMPENSATION CLAIMS
I refer the Premier to a document obtained by the opposition which reveals that the government has received advice from the State Solicitor’s Office that the government’s ban on uranium mining has the potential to open up Western Australia to millions of dollars in compensation claims. (1) Can the Premier confirm that the government has received advice that more than 40 state agreements currently place an obligation on the state to grant future mining leases, and, if the right to mine uranium were removed, the state could place itself in breach? (2) Can he confirm that this matter was discussed in cabinet? (3) Given that the state has been exposed to such a significant financial risk because of the government’s policy, what financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
I refer the Premier to a document obtained by the opposition which reveals that the government has received advice from the State Solicitor’s Office that the government’s ban on uranium mining has the potential to open up Western Australia to millions of dollars in compensation claims. (1) Can the Premier confirm that the government has received advice that more than 40 state agreements currently place an obligation on the state to grant future mining leases, and, if the right to mine uranium were removed, the state could place itself in breach? (2) Can he confirm that this matter was discussed in cabinet? (3) Given that the state has been exposed to such a significant financial risk because of the government’s policy, what financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
(1) Can the Premier confirm that the government has received advice that more than 40 state agreements currently place an obligation on the state to grant future mining leases, and, if the right to mine uranium were removed, the state could place itself in breach? (2) Can he confirm that this matter was discussed in cabinet? (3) Given that the state has been exposed to such a significant financial risk because of the government’s policy, what financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
(2) Can he confirm that this matter was discussed in cabinet? (3) Given that the state has been exposed to such a significant financial risk because of the government’s policy, what financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
(3) Given that the state has been exposed to such a significant financial risk because of the government’s policy, what financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
(1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
(1) Can the Premier confirm that the government has received advice that more than 40 state agreements currently place an obligation on the state to grant future mining leases, and, if the right to mine uranium were removed, the state could place itself in breach? (2) Can he confirm that this matter was discussed in cabinet? (3) Given that the state has been exposed to such a significant financial risk because of the government’s policy, what financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
(2) Can he confirm that this matter was discussed in cabinet? (3) Given that the state has been exposed to such a significant financial risk because of the government’s policy, what financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
(3) Given that the state has been exposed to such a significant financial risk because of the government’s policy, what financial allocations have been made for contingent liabilities? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
(1)-(3) Let us get real about this. What we discuss in cabinet has nothing to do with the member personally. In case the member does not know, and previous cabinet ministers will know this, when members sign up to be a cabinet minister they sign up to keep confidential the issues that are discussed in cabinet. Ministers do not divulge the issues, one by one, or the discussions. I am not denying the possibility that that sort of advice exists. The mining industry in Western Australia knows our position. Exploration leases are issued with a covering statement that they will not be converted to allow uranium mining. Mining uranium would not be allowed. Everybody knows that. I think that has been the case since 2002. During the time that I was the minister and since I have held this position, no issue has been raised with me along the lines that the member has put forward. If it were deemed necessary, we would probably legislate to prevent the mining of uranium, but the mining industry in Western Australia is very pragmatic - unlike the member - and it is not pursuing the issue with us in the way that he would like it to. The member can look at the budget papers. If he can find a contingency in the budget papers for some future claim - Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
Mr T.R. Buswell interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Of course there is not a contingency.
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