❓ Hon. Kate Doust asks the Minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum about BHP Billiton's asbestos management in Pilbara mining operations, requesting the tabling of guidelines, management plans, encounter frequency, and monitoring results. The Minister provides some information and declines to table certain documents citing confidentiality and intellectual property.
AnsweredQoN 817Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BHP
BILLITON PILBARA OPERATIONS — ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT
817. Hon KATE DOUST to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the answer to question without notice 779.
(1) Will the
minister table a copy of the Department of Mines and Petroleum's
fibrous mineral management guidelines; and, if not, why not?
(2) Will the
minister table the asbestos management plan provided to the department by BHP
Billiton; and, if not, why not?
(3) In reference
to the answer to part (3) of the question, how many times has asbestos been
encountered in a BHP Billiton mining operation in the Pilbara?
(4) In reference
to part (4) of the question, will the minister table the most recent monitoring
results submitted to the department by BHP Billiton; and, if not, why not?
BILLITON PILBARA OPERATIONS — ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT
817. Hon KATE DOUST to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the answer to question without notice 779.
(1) Will the
minister table a copy of the Department of Mines and Petroleum's
fibrous mineral management guidelines; and, if not, why not?
(2) Will the
minister table the asbestos management plan provided to the department by BHP
Billiton; and, if not, why not?
(3) In reference
to the answer to part (3) of the question, how many times has asbestos been
encountered in a BHP Billiton mining operation in the Pilbara?
(4) In reference
to part (4) of the question, will the minister table the most recent monitoring
results submitted to the department by BHP Billiton; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question. The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises —
(1) The
department's ''Management of fibrous minerals in Western
Australian mining operations'' guideline is publicly available on the
Department of Mines and Petroleum website.
(2) Such
information would be obtained by the Department of Mines and Petroleum using
the compulsion powers of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. I am advised
that when such information is obtained for a particular purpose under a
statute, there is a duty on the person who obtains that information in the
exercise of the power not to disclose such information except for the intended
purpose. I am further advised that because the intellectual property rights to
such documentation are retained by the mine operator, it would be more
appropriate for the member to contact the mines directly to determine what
information they are prepared to provide.
(3) Asbestiform
minerals are widely distributed in Western Australia and can be encountered at
various times during mining operations.
(4) See (2).
question. The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises —
(1) The
department's ''Management of fibrous minerals in Western
Australian mining operations'' guideline is publicly available on the
Department of Mines and Petroleum website.
(2) Such
information would be obtained by the Department of Mines and Petroleum using
the compulsion powers of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. I am advised
that when such information is obtained for a particular purpose under a
statute, there is a duty on the person who obtains that information in the
exercise of the power not to disclose such information except for the intended
purpose. I am further advised that because the intellectual property rights to
such documentation are retained by the mine operator, it would be more
appropriate for the member to contact the mines directly to determine what
information they are prepared to provide.
(3) Asbestiform
minerals are widely distributed in Western Australia and can be encountered at
various times during mining operations.
(4) See (2).
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