Hon John Fischer questions the increase in mining lease rentals, citing the struggling exploration industry and a pre-election promise. Hon Ken Travers responds that the increase is less than the cumulative inflation since the last increase in 1998 and is needed to maintain departmental services.

AnsweredQoN 657Legislative Council
Asked
24 October 2001
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

The Government has increased mining lease rentals from $11.33 a hectare to $12 a hectare. This is an increase of 5.9 per cent, which is twice the annual inflation rate. Given the difficulties experienced by the exploration industry, with a 41 per cent reduction in investment since 1997, and in light of the Government’s pre-election promise that rates and charges will not be increased, can the parliamentary secretary explain the reason for the increase in rents, and the rationale behind increasing those rents by more than twice the inflationary rate? Hon KEN TRAVERS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised that, aside from the effect of the goods and services tax in July 2000, mining lease rentals were last increased in July 1998. The latest small increase is less than the annual inflation rate since that date. Rates were increased to help ensure that the delivery of departmental programs relating to titles and the management of health, safety and the environment would continue at reasonable levels.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised that, aside from the effect of the goods and services tax in July 2000, mining lease rentals were last increased in July 1998. The latest small increase is less than the annual inflation rate since that date. Rates were increased to help ensure that the delivery of departmental programs relating to titles and the management of health, safety and the environment would continue at reasonable levels.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised that, aside from the effect of the goods and services tax in July 2000, mining lease rentals were last increased in July 1998. The latest small increase is less than the annual inflation rate since that date. Rates were increased to help ensure that the delivery of departmental programs relating to titles and the management of health, safety and the environment would continue at reasonable levels.
I am advised that, aside from the effect of the goods and services tax in July 2000, mining lease rentals were last increased in July 1998. The latest small increase is less than the annual inflation rate since that date. Rates were increased to help ensure that the delivery of departmental programs relating to titles and the management of health, safety and the environment would continue at reasonable levels.

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