Hon Robin Chapple questions the application of the Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) to mines operating under State Agreement Acts administered by the Department of State Development, specifically regarding bonds, rehabilitation costs, standards, and MRF fund usage in case of abandonment. The Department's response indicates the MRF Act may not apply to these mines.

AnsweredQoN 3746Legislative Council
Asked
17 November 2015
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

In
relation to the application of the Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF), and for all mines or mine infrastructure with
State Agreement Acts administered by
the Department of State Development, I ask: (a) what bonds or other securities are held by the State Government for each of the mines, list by relevant State Agreement Act; (b) what is the estimated rehabilitation cost for each of the mines, list by relevant State Agreement Act; (c) what conditions or standards for rehabilitation apply to the mines, list by relevant State Agreement Act; (d) can MRF funds, or interest raised from the investment of the MRF, be used to rehabilitate these sites in the event of abandonment of any of the mines, list by relevant State Agreement Act; and (e) if no to (d), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 February 2016
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
91 days
Department of State Development advises:
(a) The Mining Rehabilitation Fund Act 2012 (MRF) may apply to tenure held pursuant to State Agreements if the tenure is prescribed as a mining authorisation. Since 2012 no tenure held pursuant to State Agreements has been prescribed as a mining authorisation as defined under section 4 of the MRF.
(b) Refer to (a).
(c) The various mines are subject to assessment processes under the laws of the land and environmental conditions via those processes.
(d) Section 8 of the MRF specifies the land to which MRF funds may be applied.
(e) See (d) above.

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