❓ Mr Michel asks about the McGowan government's efforts to reduce red tape in the WA mining sector and encourage exploration. The Minister outlines initiatives to streamline approvals and highlights positive performance metrics.
AnsweredQoN 146Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINING AND RESOURCES
SECTOR — RED-TAPE REDUCTION
146. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I would like to welcome the teachers
and year 6 student leaders from Port Hedland, South Hedland, Baler, South Newman
and Newman Primary Schools who are in the chamber gallery with us today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts to drive more activity in the Western Australian
mining sector and support industry in creating more local jobs. Can the
minister outline to the house what the government is doing to cut red tape for
businesses and encourage more exploration in WA?
SECTOR — RED-TAPE REDUCTION
146. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum:
I would like to welcome the teachers
and year 6 student leaders from Port Hedland, South Hedland, Baler, South Newman
and Newman Primary Schools who are in the chamber gallery with us today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts to drive more activity in the Western Australian
mining sector and support industry in creating more local jobs. Can the
minister outline to the house what the government is doing to cut red tape for
businesses and encourage more exploration in WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I am pleased to receive the question
and I note the strong commitment to the mining sector from the member for
Pilbara. The people in the Pilbara are very lucky to have such a high quality
representative here in Parliament.
We are very lucky that Western Australia
continues to be one of the principal places to receive investment in the mining
sector anywhere in the globe. I note that one of the reasons for that is that
we have a strong regulatory framework that provides certainty to people. In
fact, I was surprised that the Fraser Institute recently found that 100 per
cent of people who they surveyed in the Western Australian mining industry were
either confident or highly confident that they would receive the permits that
they had applied for, which is an extraordinary thing, and 100 per cent of
mining executives believed that they would get their projects approved in Western
Australia. This is the only place in the world that was shown to have that
rating in the Fraser Institute survey. But we are not resting on our laurels. I
am very pleased that the director general of the Department of Mines, Industry
Regulation and Safety is co-chair of Streamline WA, which is looking to see how
agencies can reduce their regulatory arrangements to make things faster for
industry. I am very pleased to say that DMIRS has been able to reduce the time
frame for the approval of programs to work. Currently, it has a target of 30
days. From 1 July, that will be reduced to just 15 days.
This is another step forward for
the government in Western Australia to support the resources sector. Supporting
the early stage exploration industry is very critical because that is where the
next big thing is always found. Every mine starts with an exploration project,
and it is said that 100 exploration projects are needed to get one successful
mine, so we absolutely have to continue to focus on that area. I am very
pleased to say that the department's most recent quarterly report
showed that 95 per cent of prospecting licences were finalised within the target
time; 96 per cent of exploration licenses were finalised within the target
time; and 98 per cent of program-of-work applications were finalised within
target time. It is very good that we are now further reducing those target time
lines for the program of works. Of course, I want to make it clear that the
outcomes for the department are included in a quarterly report that is shown on
the website, and so we continue to be completely transparent on our
achievements in this area. It sets out what the targets are and how we are
going against all of our targets. It is just good news continually here in Western
Australia. We know that there is going to be global disruption from COVID-19,
so we have to concentrate on working with industry to make sure that our
industry can play a strong role in supporting jobs and the workforce in the
state.
and I note the strong commitment to the mining sector from the member for
Pilbara. The people in the Pilbara are very lucky to have such a high quality
representative here in Parliament.
We are very lucky that Western Australia
continues to be one of the principal places to receive investment in the mining
sector anywhere in the globe. I note that one of the reasons for that is that
we have a strong regulatory framework that provides certainty to people. In
fact, I was surprised that the Fraser Institute recently found that 100 per
cent of people who they surveyed in the Western Australian mining industry were
either confident or highly confident that they would receive the permits that
they had applied for, which is an extraordinary thing, and 100 per cent of
mining executives believed that they would get their projects approved in Western
Australia. This is the only place in the world that was shown to have that
rating in the Fraser Institute survey. But we are not resting on our laurels. I
am very pleased that the director general of the Department of Mines, Industry
Regulation and Safety is co-chair of Streamline WA, which is looking to see how
agencies can reduce their regulatory arrangements to make things faster for
industry. I am very pleased to say that DMIRS has been able to reduce the time
frame for the approval of programs to work. Currently, it has a target of 30
days. From 1 July, that will be reduced to just 15 days.
This is another step forward for
the government in Western Australia to support the resources sector. Supporting
the early stage exploration industry is very critical because that is where the
next big thing is always found. Every mine starts with an exploration project,
and it is said that 100 exploration projects are needed to get one successful
mine, so we absolutely have to continue to focus on that area. I am very
pleased to say that the department's most recent quarterly report
showed that 95 per cent of prospecting licences were finalised within the target
time; 96 per cent of exploration licenses were finalised within the target
time; and 98 per cent of program-of-work applications were finalised within
target time. It is very good that we are now further reducing those target time
lines for the program of works. Of course, I want to make it clear that the
outcomes for the department are included in a quarterly report that is shown on
the website, and so we continue to be completely transparent on our
achievements in this area. It sets out what the targets are and how we are
going against all of our targets. It is just good news continually here in Western
Australia. We know that there is going to be global disruption from COVID-19,
so we have to concentrate on working with industry to make sure that our
industry can play a strong role in supporting jobs and the workforce in the
state.
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