❓ Hon Giz Watson asks about adopting the South Australian model for uranium mining regulation. Hon Norman Moore responds that WA will consider SA practices but aims for world's best practice, leveraging existing mineral sands regulations.
AnsweredQoN 207Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
URANIUM MINING — SOUTH australian MODEL
Is it true that the minister intends to follow the so-called South Australian model to regulate the mining of uranium; and, if so, what does he mean by that? Hon NORMAN MOORE
Is it true that the minister intends to follow the so-called South Australian model to regulate the mining of uranium; and, if so, what does he mean by that? Hon NORMAN MOORE
AnswerView source ↗
In part. Mr President, as you would know and as others would know, the mining of uranium in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and the transport of yellowcake has been going on for many decades. Regulatory conditions are attached to both the mining and the transport of the product in South Australia and the Northern Territory. In Western Australia we already have a significant body of regulatory legislation that relates to mineral sands mining, which involves radioactive materials. As we have sat down as a government looking at what we need to do for a uranium industry here in Western Australia, we have discovered that much of the legislation that applies to the mineral sands industry will be applicable to a uranium mining industry. However, we have already met with officials from South Australia, the Northern Territory and the commonwealth and we are working very carefully to ensure that the regulatory regime we put in place in Western Australia is world’s best practice. If the member has a view that South Australia’s is not best practice, at some time she might tell me why and I will make sure that if that needs to be addressed, it will be addressed. The facts of the matter are quite simple—uranium mining and the transport of yellowcake has occurred in both South Australia and the Northern Territory for a very long time under the regulatory regime they have in place. Interestingly, both the territory and South Australia have Labor governments and, for some reason or other, they seem to think it is quite possible to manage the mining of uranium and the transport of yellowcake in those two jurisdictions. I share their view. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Mr President, before we complete question time, I would like to make a comment for your consideration as you consider whether the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich is in order. I refer to standing order 136 that deals with questions that may be put. It states — Questions may be put to: (a) a Minister relating to public affairs with which he is connected, It goes on to talk about proceedings in the Council and matters of administration for which a minister is responsible. Mr President, I suggest that in your consideration you look at the fact that the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich clearly related to public affairs with which the minister is connected. The Minister for Regional Development, like a number of ministers, has an advocacy role as well as roles relating to the administration of departments. Part of that advocacy role is to advocate and coordinate broadly across government economic development. The issues that were raised by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich in her question this afternoon clearly relate to the public affairs for which that minister is responsible. Mr President, I urge you to consider that and, if possible, give a ruling so that that question can be answered at the earliest opportunity for the member. The PRESIDENT : I thank Hon Ken Travers for raising the point that he has. I will give the matter due consideration.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: In part. Mr President, as you would know and as others would know, the mining of uranium in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and the transport of yellowcake has been going on for many decades. Regulatory conditions are attached to both the mining and the transport of the product in South Australia and the Northern Territory. In Western Australia we already have a significant body of regulatory legislation that relates to mineral sands mining, which involves radioactive materials. As we have sat down as a government looking at what we need to do for a uranium industry here in Western Australia, we have discovered that much of the legislation that applies to the mineral sands industry will be applicable to a uranium mining industry. However, we have already met with officials from South Australia, the Northern Territory and the commonwealth and we are working very carefully to ensure that the regulatory regime we put in place in Western Australia is world’s best practice. If the member has a view that South Australia’s is not best practice, at some time she might tell me why and I will make sure that if that needs to be addressed, it will be addressed. The facts of the matter are quite simple—uranium mining and the transport of yellowcake has occurred in both South Australia and the Northern Territory for a very long time under the regulatory regime they have in place. Interestingly, both the territory and South Australia have Labor governments and, for some reason or other, they seem to think it is quite possible to manage the mining of uranium and the transport of yellowcake in those two jurisdictions. I share their view. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Mr President, before we complete question time, I would like to make a comment for your consideration as you consider whether the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich is in order. I refer to standing order 136 that deals with questions that may be put. It states — Questions may be put to: (a) a Minister relating to public affairs with which he is connected, It goes on to talk about proceedings in the Council and matters of administration for which a minister is responsible. Mr President, I suggest that in your consideration you look at the fact that the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich clearly related to public affairs with which the minister is connected. The Minister for Regional Development, like a number of ministers, has an advocacy role as well as roles relating to the administration of departments. Part of that advocacy role is to advocate and coordinate broadly across government economic development. The issues that were raised by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich in her question this afternoon clearly relate to the public affairs for which that minister is responsible. Mr President, I urge you to consider that and, if possible, give a ruling so that that question can be answered at the earliest opportunity for the member. The PRESIDENT : I thank Hon Ken Travers for raising the point that he has. I will give the matter due consideration.
In part. Mr President, as you would know and as others would know, the mining of uranium in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and the transport of yellowcake has been going on for many decades. Regulatory conditions are attached to both the mining and the transport of the product in South Australia and the Northern Territory. In Western Australia we already have a significant body of regulatory legislation that relates to mineral sands mining, which involves radioactive materials. As we have sat down as a government looking at what we need to do for a uranium industry here in Western Australia, we have discovered that much of the legislation that applies to the mineral sands industry will be applicable to a uranium mining industry. However, we have already met with officials from South Australia, the Northern Territory and the commonwealth and we are working very carefully to ensure that the regulatory regime we put in place in Western Australia is world’s best practice. If the member has a view that South Australia’s is not best practice, at some time she might tell me why and I will make sure that if that needs to be addressed, it will be addressed. The facts of the matter are quite simple—uranium mining and the transport of yellowcake has occurred in both South Australia and the Northern Territory for a very long time under the regulatory regime they have in place. Interestingly, both the territory and South Australia have Labor governments and, for some reason or other, they seem to think it is quite possible to manage the mining of uranium and the transport of yellowcake in those two jurisdictions. I share their view. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Mr President, before we complete question time, I would like to make a comment for your consideration as you consider whether the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich is in order. I refer to standing order 136 that deals with questions that may be put. It states — Questions may be put to: (a) a Minister relating to public affairs with which he is connected, It goes on to talk about proceedings in the Council and matters of administration for which a minister is responsible. Mr President, I suggest that in your consideration you look at the fact that the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich clearly related to public affairs with which the minister is connected. The Minister for Regional Development, like a number of ministers, has an advocacy role as well as roles relating to the administration of departments. Part of that advocacy role is to advocate and coordinate broadly across government economic development. The issues that were raised by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich in her question this afternoon clearly relate to the public affairs for which that minister is responsible. Mr President, I urge you to consider that and, if possible, give a ruling so that that question can be answered at the earliest opportunity for the member. The PRESIDENT : I thank Hon Ken Travers for raising the point that he has. I will give the matter due consideration.
(a) a Minister relating to public affairs with which he is connected,
The PRESIDENT : I thank Hon Ken Travers for raising the point that he has. I will give the matter due consideration.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: In part. Mr President, as you would know and as others would know, the mining of uranium in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and the transport of yellowcake has been going on for many decades. Regulatory conditions are attached to both the mining and the transport of the product in South Australia and the Northern Territory. In Western Australia we already have a significant body of regulatory legislation that relates to mineral sands mining, which involves radioactive materials. As we have sat down as a government looking at what we need to do for a uranium industry here in Western Australia, we have discovered that much of the legislation that applies to the mineral sands industry will be applicable to a uranium mining industry. However, we have already met with officials from South Australia, the Northern Territory and the commonwealth and we are working very carefully to ensure that the regulatory regime we put in place in Western Australia is world’s best practice. If the member has a view that South Australia’s is not best practice, at some time she might tell me why and I will make sure that if that needs to be addressed, it will be addressed. The facts of the matter are quite simple—uranium mining and the transport of yellowcake has occurred in both South Australia and the Northern Territory for a very long time under the regulatory regime they have in place. Interestingly, both the territory and South Australia have Labor governments and, for some reason or other, they seem to think it is quite possible to manage the mining of uranium and the transport of yellowcake in those two jurisdictions. I share their view. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Mr President, before we complete question time, I would like to make a comment for your consideration as you consider whether the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich is in order. I refer to standing order 136 that deals with questions that may be put. It states — Questions may be put to: (a) a Minister relating to public affairs with which he is connected, It goes on to talk about proceedings in the Council and matters of administration for which a minister is responsible. Mr President, I suggest that in your consideration you look at the fact that the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich clearly related to public affairs with which the minister is connected. The Minister for Regional Development, like a number of ministers, has an advocacy role as well as roles relating to the administration of departments. Part of that advocacy role is to advocate and coordinate broadly across government economic development. The issues that were raised by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich in her question this afternoon clearly relate to the public affairs for which that minister is responsible. Mr President, I urge you to consider that and, if possible, give a ruling so that that question can be answered at the earliest opportunity for the member. The PRESIDENT : I thank Hon Ken Travers for raising the point that he has. I will give the matter due consideration.
In part. Mr President, as you would know and as others would know, the mining of uranium in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and the transport of yellowcake has been going on for many decades. Regulatory conditions are attached to both the mining and the transport of the product in South Australia and the Northern Territory. In Western Australia we already have a significant body of regulatory legislation that relates to mineral sands mining, which involves radioactive materials. As we have sat down as a government looking at what we need to do for a uranium industry here in Western Australia, we have discovered that much of the legislation that applies to the mineral sands industry will be applicable to a uranium mining industry. However, we have already met with officials from South Australia, the Northern Territory and the commonwealth and we are working very carefully to ensure that the regulatory regime we put in place in Western Australia is world’s best practice. If the member has a view that South Australia’s is not best practice, at some time she might tell me why and I will make sure that if that needs to be addressed, it will be addressed. The facts of the matter are quite simple—uranium mining and the transport of yellowcake has occurred in both South Australia and the Northern Territory for a very long time under the regulatory regime they have in place. Interestingly, both the territory and South Australia have Labor governments and, for some reason or other, they seem to think it is quite possible to manage the mining of uranium and the transport of yellowcake in those two jurisdictions. I share their view. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Mr President, before we complete question time, I would like to make a comment for your consideration as you consider whether the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich is in order. I refer to standing order 136 that deals with questions that may be put. It states — Questions may be put to: (a) a Minister relating to public affairs with which he is connected, It goes on to talk about proceedings in the Council and matters of administration for which a minister is responsible. Mr President, I suggest that in your consideration you look at the fact that the question asked by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich clearly related to public affairs with which the minister is connected. The Minister for Regional Development, like a number of ministers, has an advocacy role as well as roles relating to the administration of departments. Part of that advocacy role is to advocate and coordinate broadly across government economic development. The issues that were raised by Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich in her question this afternoon clearly relate to the public affairs for which that minister is responsible. Mr President, I urge you to consider that and, if possible, give a ruling so that that question can be answered at the earliest opportunity for the member. The PRESIDENT : I thank Hon Ken Travers for raising the point that he has. I will give the matter due consideration.
(a) a Minister relating to public affairs with which he is connected,
The PRESIDENT : I thank Hon Ken Travers for raising the point that he has. I will give the matter due consideration.
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