❓ Mr. Zempilas questions the State Development Minister regarding the Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII), its funding, governance, and a recent consultancy review. The Minister's response provides details on the initiative's structure, funding commitments, and the consultancy's positive findings.
AnsweredQoN 1627Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Reports on Consultants Engaged by Government for the six months to 30 June 2024 and 31 December 2024 confirm that $33,638 was paid to Quantum Consulting Australia Pty Ltd for a review and assessment of whether the Resources Community Investment Initiative is on track to reach its objectives and whether the governance structure is operating effectively. Can the Minister advise: (a) When was the Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII) announced; (b) What amount of funding was announced as being made available from each of the industry partners; (c) What actual funding has been paid to the Government by industry partners and for what purpose; (d) What is the governance structure for the RCII; (e) When was it established; (f) How many times has it met; (g) What were the outcomes from each of those meetings; (h) Are members of the body overseeing the RCII remunerated: (i) If so, which ones and how much; (i) What annual payments have been made to those members of the body that are remunerated since the establishment of the initiative; (j) What prompted the need for a consultancy to determine if the RCII is on track and whether the governance structure is operating effectively; (k) Have concerns been raised about the governance structure: (i) If so, by who and when; (l) Did the consultants provide the Government with a draft and or final report: (i) If so when, to who and can it be tabled; (m) What are the findings from this consultancy; (n) Does the Government accept the recommendations of the consultancy: (i) If so, what is the process and timeline for implementing them; and (ii) If not, why not; (o) Who did Quantum Consulting consult with respect to their work and when; (p) Did Quantum Consulting meet with the body responsible for oversight of the RCII: (i) If so when and who; and (ii) If not, why not; (q) Did Quantum Consulting meet with the Government to discuss the work it was undertaking: (i) If so, with who and when; (r) Have the findings from the consultancy been shared with entities outside the State Government: (i) If so, when, who and for what purpose; and (s) Has the Government established a process and timeline to deliver the commitments made under the RCII: (i) If so, what is it; and (ii) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for State Development
Response time
1 days
a. November 2022.
b. $750 million, including $250 million each from Rio Tinto and BHP; $100 million collectively from Hancock Prospecting, Roy Hill and Atlas Iron (now Hancock Iron Ore); and $50 million each from Chevron Australia, Mineral Resources and Woodside.
c. As of 5 January 2026, $102 million has been publicly committed by companies to RCII initiatives. Of this, $22.8 million has been paid to the State for the Pilbara Safe Spaces Program, Perth Zoo Pilbara Immersive Habitat Encounter and Roebourne District High School redevelopment.
d. The RCII Advisory Committee, overseen by an independent Chair, provides strategic oversight of the RCII. The RCII Advisory Committee provide advice to the Premier.
e. The RCII Advisory Committee was established in early 2023.
f. As of 5 January 2026, the RCII Advisory Committee has met nine times in-person and four times out-of-session.
g. At the RCII Advisory Committee meetings, the Committee provides strategic oversight of the RCII, and recommendations to Government on whether a project should be eligible for RCII funding and whether a company should contribute to an RCII project.
h. The RCII Chairperson is the only remunerated member of the RCII Advisory Committee.
i. $55,076 per annum.
i. The RCII Chairperson was remunerated $13,514 in 2022-23, and $55,076 in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
j. The review was required under the terms of reference for the RCII Advisory Committee.
k. No.
i. Not applicable.
l. Yes.
i. The final report was provided in September 2024 to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the RCII Advisory Committee – see attached.
m. The consultancy found the RCII remains on track to achieve its intended objectives. The governance structures, systems and processes are regarded as fit for purpose to ensure effective operation of the RCII.
n. Yes.
i. The recommendations have been implemented.
ii. Not applicable.
o. Quantum Consulting consulted the below over June and July 2024:
· Director General – Department of the Premier and Cabinet;
· Deputy Under Treasurer – Department of Treasury;
· Director General – Department of Finance;
· CEO – Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA;
· Chairperson – RCII Advisory Committee;
· A/Deputy Director General – Infrastructure, Economy and Environment – Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and
· The RCII Project Team within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
p. Yes.
i. Over June and July 2024, Quantum Consulting met with members of the RCII Advisory Committee or their nominated delegates, including the Director General of the Department of the Department of Premier and Cabinet; the Deputy Under Treasurer – Department of Treasury; Director General of the Department of Finance; the CEO of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA; and the Independent Chairperson.
ii. Not applicable.
q. Yes.
i. Quantum Consulting met with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, which engaged their services on behalf of Government, between March and September 2024.
r. No.
i. Not applicable.
s. Yes.
i. A process has been established to deliver commitments under the RCII, whereby participating resource companies identify and then commit to fund specific RCII projects. Once a company has agreed to support a project, a project funding agreement is executed including key terms and conditions such as the value of the contribution and payment milestones.
ii. The RCII is a multi-year initiative, which will see companies agree to fund specific projects from within their overall commitment, and then allocate funding to each project, in line with the delivery schedules of those projects. The delivery timeframes for RCII projects vary.
b. $750 million, including $250 million each from Rio Tinto and BHP; $100 million collectively from Hancock Prospecting, Roy Hill and Atlas Iron (now Hancock Iron Ore); and $50 million each from Chevron Australia, Mineral Resources and Woodside.
c. As of 5 January 2026, $102 million has been publicly committed by companies to RCII initiatives. Of this, $22.8 million has been paid to the State for the Pilbara Safe Spaces Program, Perth Zoo Pilbara Immersive Habitat Encounter and Roebourne District High School redevelopment.
d. The RCII Advisory Committee, overseen by an independent Chair, provides strategic oversight of the RCII. The RCII Advisory Committee provide advice to the Premier.
e. The RCII Advisory Committee was established in early 2023.
f. As of 5 January 2026, the RCII Advisory Committee has met nine times in-person and four times out-of-session.
g. At the RCII Advisory Committee meetings, the Committee provides strategic oversight of the RCII, and recommendations to Government on whether a project should be eligible for RCII funding and whether a company should contribute to an RCII project.
h. The RCII Chairperson is the only remunerated member of the RCII Advisory Committee.
i. $55,076 per annum.
i. The RCII Chairperson was remunerated $13,514 in 2022-23, and $55,076 in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
j. The review was required under the terms of reference for the RCII Advisory Committee.
k. No.
i. Not applicable.
l. Yes.
i. The final report was provided in September 2024 to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the RCII Advisory Committee – see attached.
m. The consultancy found the RCII remains on track to achieve its intended objectives. The governance structures, systems and processes are regarded as fit for purpose to ensure effective operation of the RCII.
n. Yes.
i. The recommendations have been implemented.
ii. Not applicable.
o. Quantum Consulting consulted the below over June and July 2024:
· Director General – Department of the Premier and Cabinet;
· Deputy Under Treasurer – Department of Treasury;
· Director General – Department of Finance;
· CEO – Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA;
· Chairperson – RCII Advisory Committee;
· A/Deputy Director General – Infrastructure, Economy and Environment – Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and
· The RCII Project Team within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
p. Yes.
i. Over June and July 2024, Quantum Consulting met with members of the RCII Advisory Committee or their nominated delegates, including the Director General of the Department of the Department of Premier and Cabinet; the Deputy Under Treasurer – Department of Treasury; Director General of the Department of Finance; the CEO of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA; and the Independent Chairperson.
ii. Not applicable.
q. Yes.
i. Quantum Consulting met with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, which engaged their services on behalf of Government, between March and September 2024.
r. No.
i. Not applicable.
s. Yes.
i. A process has been established to deliver commitments under the RCII, whereby participating resource companies identify and then commit to fund specific RCII projects. Once a company has agreed to support a project, a project funding agreement is executed including key terms and conditions such as the value of the contribution and payment milestones.
ii. The RCII is a multi-year initiative, which will see companies agree to fund specific projects from within their overall commitment, and then allocate funding to each project, in line with the delivery schedules of those projects. The delivery timeframes for RCII projects vary.
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