❓ The Minister for Mines and Petroleum provides an update on gold exploration trends, highlighting a 26% increase in exploration and the sector's $9.6 billion value to WA's economy. The answer is heavily laced with political commentary and interjections.
AnsweredQoN 432Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINING — GOLD SECTOR
432. Dr G.G. JACOBS to the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum:
Can the minister please update the
house on the latest industry trends for gold exploration and the promising
outlook for the sector?
432. Dr G.G. JACOBS to the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum:
Can the minister please update the
house on the latest industry trends for gold exploration and the promising
outlook for the sector?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Eyre for the
question.
The member for Eyre is a man who
focuses on the positive. He is a glass-half-full member of this place! Unlike
members opposite, he is a glass-half-full member of Parliament who recognises
the excellent work this Liberal–National government has been doing in
shaping the conditions for success in the mining and petroleum sector! He
understands that.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : The member for Albany is glass-half-empty
politician who does nothing but whinge and complain!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Okay. We have been through the half-full and the half-empty—through
the Chair!
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Let me now focus on the member for Eyre's
question about the success of gold exploration.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Quickly,
minister, through the Chair.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : I am trying to be quick, Mr Speaker, but it is
hard when members opposite keep being so negative!
Let
us focus on gold exploration. Gold exploration is an outstanding sector in the
economy of Western Australia. In fact, we have had a 26 per cent increase in
gold exploration for the March quarter, compared with the situation in the March
quarter of 2015. That is a beacon of hope and prosperity on the mining and
petroleum horizon, members.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the third time.
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time. Member for
Mandurah, I would advise you to stop bellowing out. Speak through the Chair,
quickly, and address the issue, minister.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Let me be as brief as I can to outline the success
of this sector. Over 20 000 jobs have been created in the gold sector. We know
that the gold price is doing very well at the moment and we know that this
sector, which represents 20 per cent of the mining workforce in Western Australia—it
is a significant sector—is the second most profitable or successful
resource that we have behind iron ore and is valued at $9.6 billion to the
economy of WA. Gold is doing very well.
Today's
drilling represents tomorrow's jobs. The work that this government has
been doing, particularly with programs such as the co-funded drilling program
through the exploration incentive scheme, is enabling these great gold projects
to get off the ground. One of the examples is the Gold Road Resources Ltd
Gruyere project, which is east of Laverton. It is a fantastic project. I went
out there to see the native title agreement being signed off. It is a fantastic
project—prefeasibility studies have not been completed—which
could represent an enormous windfall to Western Australia. In fact, I have it
that there could be 3.2 million ounces of gold out there east of Laverton. That
will make it the second biggest gold mine in this country. What is most
remarkable, member for Eyre, is that in the 130 years that we have been
exploring that region, we are still finding these great finds. We would not be
finding these great finds if it were not for this government's efforts
to continue to support the mining and petroleum sector with its outstanding
policies and outstanding programs to invest in that sector so that that sector
can get out there, find these precious metals, build these mine sites and build
jobs for Western Australians. It is an outstanding program. I thank the member
so much for the question, because if we were not doing this and we were a pessimistic
half-empty type of group of members of Parliament, this would not be happening.
But we are not; we are positive members of Parliament who look to the future
and who look to develop the sector. We are doing extremely well. I thank the
member for Eyre for the question and for his support .
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for West Swan, you are on two calls.
question.
The member for Eyre is a man who
focuses on the positive. He is a glass-half-full member of this place! Unlike
members opposite, he is a glass-half-full member of Parliament who recognises
the excellent work this Liberal–National government has been doing in
shaping the conditions for success in the mining and petroleum sector! He
understands that.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : The member for Albany is glass-half-empty
politician who does nothing but whinge and complain!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Okay. We have been through the half-full and the half-empty—through
the Chair!
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Let me now focus on the member for Eyre's
question about the success of gold exploration.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Quickly,
minister, through the Chair.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : I am trying to be quick, Mr Speaker, but it is
hard when members opposite keep being so negative!
Let
us focus on gold exploration. Gold exploration is an outstanding sector in the
economy of Western Australia. In fact, we have had a 26 per cent increase in
gold exploration for the March quarter, compared with the situation in the March
quarter of 2015. That is a beacon of hope and prosperity on the mining and
petroleum horizon, members.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the third time.
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time. Member for
Mandurah, I would advise you to stop bellowing out. Speak through the Chair,
quickly, and address the issue, minister.
Mr
S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Let me be as brief as I can to outline the success
of this sector. Over 20 000 jobs have been created in the gold sector. We know
that the gold price is doing very well at the moment and we know that this
sector, which represents 20 per cent of the mining workforce in Western Australia—it
is a significant sector—is the second most profitable or successful
resource that we have behind iron ore and is valued at $9.6 billion to the
economy of WA. Gold is doing very well.
Today's
drilling represents tomorrow's jobs. The work that this government has
been doing, particularly with programs such as the co-funded drilling program
through the exploration incentive scheme, is enabling these great gold projects
to get off the ground. One of the examples is the Gold Road Resources Ltd
Gruyere project, which is east of Laverton. It is a fantastic project. I went
out there to see the native title agreement being signed off. It is a fantastic
project—prefeasibility studies have not been completed—which
could represent an enormous windfall to Western Australia. In fact, I have it
that there could be 3.2 million ounces of gold out there east of Laverton. That
will make it the second biggest gold mine in this country. What is most
remarkable, member for Eyre, is that in the 130 years that we have been
exploring that region, we are still finding these great finds. We would not be
finding these great finds if it were not for this government's efforts
to continue to support the mining and petroleum sector with its outstanding
policies and outstanding programs to invest in that sector so that that sector
can get out there, find these precious metals, build these mine sites and build
jobs for Western Australians. It is an outstanding program. I thank the member
so much for the question, because if we were not doing this and we were a pessimistic
half-empty type of group of members of Parliament, this would not be happening.
But we are not; we are positive members of Parliament who look to the future
and who look to develop the sector. We are doing extremely well. I thank the
member for Eyre for the question and for his support .
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for West Swan, you are on two calls.
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