❓ Hon Norman Moore questions the minister about water management charges for the mining industry, specifically regarding saline and groundwater they develop themselves. The minister's response indicates a cautious approach, pending review of the Water Reform Implementation Committee's report and national agreement.
AnsweredQoN 1086Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WATER RESOURCES - MANAGEMENT CHARGES
I refer the minister to recent publicity concerning proposals for water management charges. What has the minister done to ensure that the mining industry is not burdened with unwarranted water charges for the use of saline and ground water that has no other use and which the industry finds and develops at its own cost? Hon KIM CHANCE
I refer the minister to recent publicity concerning proposals for water management charges. What has the minister done to ensure that the mining industry is not burdened with unwarranted water charges for the use of saline and ground water that has no other use and which the industry finds and develops at its own cost? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. The minister is aware of the views of the mining industry and commercial water users more generally in relation to the prospect of the introduction of water resource management charges to recover some of the cost to the community of managing water resources. The government appointed the Water Reform Implementation Committee in September 2005 to prepare detailed advice on a range of matters concerning water reform in Western Australia, including the matter of cost recovery. The government will need to review the recommendations of the Water Reform Implementation Committee before being able to determine its response. The committee will report in December. As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. The minister is aware of the views of the mining industry and commercial water users more generally in relation to the prospect of the introduction of water resource management charges to recover some of the cost to the community of managing water resources. The government appointed the Water Reform Implementation Committee in September 2005 to prepare detailed advice on a range of matters concerning water reform in Western Australia, including the matter of cost recovery. The government will need to review the recommendations of the Water Reform Implementation Committee before being able to determine its response. The committee will report in December. As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. The minister is aware of the views of the mining industry and commercial water users more generally in relation to the prospect of the introduction of water resource management charges to recover some of the cost to the community of managing water resources. The government appointed the Water Reform Implementation Committee in September 2005 to prepare detailed advice on a range of matters concerning water reform in Western Australia, including the matter of cost recovery. The government will need to review the recommendations of the Water Reform Implementation Committee before being able to determine its response. The committee will report in December. As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
The minister is aware of the views of the mining industry and commercial water users more generally in relation to the prospect of the introduction of water resource management charges to recover some of the cost to the community of managing water resources. The government appointed the Water Reform Implementation Committee in September 2005 to prepare detailed advice on a range of matters concerning water reform in Western Australia, including the matter of cost recovery. The government will need to review the recommendations of the Water Reform Implementation Committee before being able to determine its response. The committee will report in December. As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. The minister is aware of the views of the mining industry and commercial water users more generally in relation to the prospect of the introduction of water resource management charges to recover some of the cost to the community of managing water resources. The government appointed the Water Reform Implementation Committee in September 2005 to prepare detailed advice on a range of matters concerning water reform in Western Australia, including the matter of cost recovery. The government will need to review the recommendations of the Water Reform Implementation Committee before being able to determine its response. The committee will report in December. As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. The minister is aware of the views of the mining industry and commercial water users more generally in relation to the prospect of the introduction of water resource management charges to recover some of the cost to the community of managing water resources. The government appointed the Water Reform Implementation Committee in September 2005 to prepare detailed advice on a range of matters concerning water reform in Western Australia, including the matter of cost recovery. The government will need to review the recommendations of the Water Reform Implementation Committee before being able to determine its response. The committee will report in December. As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
The minister is aware of the views of the mining industry and commercial water users more generally in relation to the prospect of the introduction of water resource management charges to recover some of the cost to the community of managing water resources. The government appointed the Water Reform Implementation Committee in September 2005 to prepare detailed advice on a range of matters concerning water reform in Western Australia, including the matter of cost recovery. The government will need to review the recommendations of the Water Reform Implementation Committee before being able to determine its response. The committee will report in December. As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
As a signatory to the National Water Initiative, Western Australia is committed to recovering the cost of protecting and managing our water. It is appropriate that commercial water users contribute to the cost of management of our most precious resource, acknowledging that some industries already bear costs associated with finding and accessing water. The introduction of a water licence administration fee is part of this. The National Water Commission has set up a committee comprising representatives from all jurisdictions to look into this issue more generally. Therefore, Western Australia will not be considering a broader water resource management charge until there is national agreement on this matter.
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