❓ Hon. Anthony Fels questions the government about mining investment attractiveness in WA, citing reports indicating regulatory concerns. Hon. Kim Chance responds by highlighting WA's high ranking for mineral potential and outlining government initiatives to streamline approvals.
AnsweredQoN 807Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINING INVESTMENT - GOVERNMENT REGULATION
A recent independent report by a Canadian economic and social research group, the Fraser Institute, ranked Western Australia as the least attractive state in Australia for mining investment. A survey by Ernst and Young shows government regulation was a key concern hampering growth. Will the government act immediately to reduce the red and green tape strangling the mining applications and streamline the approvals process? The PRESIDENT : I do not want to address members about what the standing orders say about questions at any length today. I might find I might have to do that shortly. Hon KIM CHANCE
A recent independent report by a Canadian economic and social research group, the Fraser Institute, ranked Western Australia as the least attractive state in Australia for mining investment. A survey by Ernst and Young shows government regulation was a key concern hampering growth. Will the government act immediately to reduce the red and green tape strangling the mining applications and streamline the approvals process? The PRESIDENT : I do not want to address members about what the standing orders say about questions at any length today. I might find I might have to do that shortly. Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
That was not what caused me to pause, Mr President. The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
The PRESIDENT : I do not want to address members about what the standing orders say about questions at any length today. I might find I might have to do that shortly. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: That was not what caused me to pause, Mr President. The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: That was not what caused me to pause, Mr President. The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
That was not what caused me to pause, Mr President. The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
The PRESIDENT : I do not want to address members about what the standing orders say about questions at any length today. I might find I might have to do that shortly. Hon KIM CHANCE replied: That was not what caused me to pause, Mr President. The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: That was not what caused me to pause, Mr President. The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
That was not what caused me to pause, Mr President. The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
The PRESIDENT : I am not concerned with what may or may not have caused the Leader of the House to pause. I was pausing myself. Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
Hon KIM CHANCE : It leaves me in some difficulty because I am not sure that the question I heard is the question I have in front of me. However, I will have a go at it. I also saw reference to the Fraser Institute’s report which said something similar. I have not read the report but I did read some media comment on it. However, I can provide the member with this answer: in regard to the Fraser Institute’s report, I am informed that it should be noted that Western Australia was ranked third in the world after Nevada and Quebec for mineral potential under current policy settings, which does seem to be at odds with what I saw reported and what the honourable member obviously saw reported. There might be a misunderstanding in the way it was reported. I am not suggesting that the honourable member has misunderstood. Nevertheless, since coming to office, this government has taken a number of steps to streamline approvals processes. It established the Office of Development Approvals Coordination in December 2005 and amended the Mining Act 1978 to introduce new provisions for exploration and mining tenements and to enable mining lease applicants to apply for new exploration tenements, and on 30 August 2007 the government committed $3.5 million over the next three years for additional resources to the Department of Industry and Resources to reduce the mining tenement backlog. Approvals processes for mining tenements are continuously reviewed.
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