❓ Mrs Warr raises concerns about local governments' ability to rate mining camps under the GRV policy, fearing tenure conversion to miscellaneous licenses. Premier Cook assures the government is restoring the intended status quo and doesn't anticipate changes, but will monitor the situation.
AnsweredQoN 618Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Local government—Mining operations618.Mrs Kirrilee Warrto
thePremier:I
refer to the gross rental value policy for mining camps introduced by the
former Barnett government to ensure that local governments that host mining
operations receive appropriate financial support. Will the Premier commit to
ensuring that the local governments currently rating mining camps on a GRV
basis will continue to be able to do so by preventing their tenure being
converted to a miscellaneous licence?
thePremier:I
refer to the gross rental value policy for mining camps introduced by the
former Barnett government to ensure that local governments that host mining
operations receive appropriate financial support. Will the Premier commit to
ensuring that the local governments currently rating mining camps on a GRV
basis will continue to be able to do so by preventing their tenure being
converted to a miscellaneous licence?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 November 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr Roger Cook replied:I
thank the member for the question, of which some notice was given. We are
restoring the status quo to what was intended by Parliament as far back as the
1980s—that miscellaneous licences are not rateable to give certainty to
the local government, mining and exploration sectors. A mining lease provides
greater security, obligations and rights for leaseholders than a non-exclusive
miscellaneous licence. It would be unlikely that the holder of a mining lease
would give up that more secure mining lease tenure for a non-exclusive
miscellaneous licence. Given that we are upholding the status quo, which is
something I understand members opposite support, we are not anticipating or
aware of plans for change, as was suggested in the member's question. We have moved
quickly to provide certainty and clarity on this matter in the sensible bill that
is before Parliament. As my answer suggests, we do not anticipate a situation in
which someone would surrender a mining lease for a miscellaneous licence in
that particular context, but obviously we will monitor the situation to ensure
that the act continues as was intended.
Local government—Mining operations
thank the member for the question, of which some notice was given. We are
restoring the status quo to what was intended by Parliament as far back as the
1980s—that miscellaneous licences are not rateable to give certainty to
the local government, mining and exploration sectors. A mining lease provides
greater security, obligations and rights for leaseholders than a non-exclusive
miscellaneous licence. It would be unlikely that the holder of a mining lease
would give up that more secure mining lease tenure for a non-exclusive
miscellaneous licence. Given that we are upholding the status quo, which is
something I understand members opposite support, we are not anticipating or
aware of plans for change, as was suggested in the member's question. We have moved
quickly to provide certainty and clarity on this matter in the sensible bill that
is before Parliament. As my answer suggests, we do not anticipate a situation in
which someone would surrender a mining lease for a miscellaneous licence in
that particular context, but obviously we will monitor the situation to ensure
that the act continues as was intended.
Local government—Mining operations
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.