A WA parliamentary question seeks details on negotiations between the state and commonwealth regarding Paladin Energy's uranium exploration on commonwealth land, specifically concerning a memorandum of understanding and jurisdictional responsibilities. The Minister provides an update on the MOU's status and clarifies its scope is limited to exploration activities.

AnsweredQoN 1038Legislative Council
Asked
22 November 2011
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

OOMAGOOMA URANIUM DEPOSIT — NEGOTIATIONS
I refer to question on notice 4549 and the negotiations between the state of Western Australia and the commonwealth government over access to Oobagooma commonwealth defence land by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd for the exploration of uranium. (1) Will the minister table the memorandum of understanding that has been prepared? (2) If no to (1), why not? (3) What is the current status of negotiations between the state and commonwealth governments and what, if any, outcomes have been agreed? (4) In the instance that uranium mining is being considered on commonwealth lands within Western Australia, what state and federal approvals will be required for Paladin to proceed with exploration and then mining? (5) Please clarify the jurisdictional arrangements in the circumstance described in (4): what decision making responsibility does the state minister have, and what decision making responsibility will the federal minister have? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(1) Will the minister table the memorandum of understanding that has been prepared? (2) If no to (1), why not? (3) What is the current status of negotiations between the state and commonwealth governments and what, if any, outcomes have been agreed? (4) In the instance that uranium mining is being considered on commonwealth lands within Western Australia, what state and federal approvals will be required for Paladin to proceed with exploration and then mining? (5) Please clarify the jurisdictional arrangements in the circumstance described in (4): what decision making responsibility does the state minister have, and what decision making responsibility will the federal minister have? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(2) If no to (1), why not? (3) What is the current status of negotiations between the state and commonwealth governments and what, if any, outcomes have been agreed? (4) In the instance that uranium mining is being considered on commonwealth lands within Western Australia, what state and federal approvals will be required for Paladin to proceed with exploration and then mining? (5) Please clarify the jurisdictional arrangements in the circumstance described in (4): what decision making responsibility does the state minister have, and what decision making responsibility will the federal minister have? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(3) What is the current status of negotiations between the state and commonwealth governments and what, if any, outcomes have been agreed? (4) In the instance that uranium mining is being considered on commonwealth lands within Western Australia, what state and federal approvals will be required for Paladin to proceed with exploration and then mining? (5) Please clarify the jurisdictional arrangements in the circumstance described in (4): what decision making responsibility does the state minister have, and what decision making responsibility will the federal minister have? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(4) In the instance that uranium mining is being considered on commonwealth lands within Western Australia, what state and federal approvals will be required for Paladin to proceed with exploration and then mining? (5) Please clarify the jurisdictional arrangements in the circumstance described in (4): what decision making responsibility does the state minister have, and what decision making responsibility will the federal minister have? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(5) Please clarify the jurisdictional arrangements in the circumstance described in (4): what decision making responsibility does the state minister have, and what decision making responsibility will the federal minister have? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(1) Yes, once the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the commonwealth Special Minister of State and me. (2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(2) Not applicable. (3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(3) The Department of Mines and Petroleum has finalised discussions with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The MOU has been drafted and is currently awaiting signature from the commonwealth Special Minister of State. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the commonwealth and Western Australian governments regarding the regulation of mineral exploration activities by Paladin Energy Pty Ltd within the Yampi Sound training area. (4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.
(4)–(5) The MOU relates to mineral exploration activities only.

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