❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for State Development regarding a 1990 file note concerning KCGM's waste dump proposal and the setting of an environmental bond, alleging political influence and consideration of KCGM's financial situation. The Minister deflects the question.
AnsweredQoN 324Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a file note which I understand is dated October 18 1990 signed by Mr Hugh Jones to the Director General of Mines titled ‘Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd - Waste Dump Proposal’ -
(1) Is it correct that part of the file note states ‘If the full bond is not set then the questions arises as to what bond is reasonable. This is in many ways a political rather than technical decision and figures of $500 000 and $1 000 000 come to mind. Given the area of disturbance by the consolidated operation I believe that any figure less than $500 000 is unacceptably low, while the magic million could be considered by the industry (particularly KCGM) as too high, particularly at a time when the gold sector is faced with its loss of exemption from corporate tax and a lower gold price. For any figure significantly over $1 000 000 it would be difficult to justify not requiring the full bond’?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister explain why the Department was of the view that this was a political decision rather than a technical decision?
(3) If no to (1), what does part of the file note state?
(4) Will the Minister table a copy of this file note?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Can the Minister explain why does the Department consider such matters as the gold sector faced with its loss of exemption from corporate tax to be relevant for the Department calculating KCGM’s environmental bond?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) Can the Minister explain why does the Department consider such matters as a lower gold price relevant for the Department calculating KCGM’s environmental bond?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister explain the reasons why for any figure significantly over $1 000 000 it would be difficult to justify not requiring the full bond?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(1) Is it correct that part of the file note states ‘If the full bond is not set then the questions arises as to what bond is reasonable. This is in many ways a political rather than technical decision and figures of $500 000 and $1 000 000 come to mind. Given the area of disturbance by the consolidated operation I believe that any figure less than $500 000 is unacceptably low, while the magic million could be considered by the industry (particularly KCGM) as too high, particularly at a time when the gold sector is faced with its loss of exemption from corporate tax and a lower gold price. For any figure significantly over $1 000 000 it would be difficult to justify not requiring the full bond’?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister explain why the Department was of the view that this was a political decision rather than a technical decision?
(3) If no to (1), what does part of the file note state?
(4) Will the Minister table a copy of this file note?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Can the Minister explain why does the Department consider such matters as the gold sector faced with its loss of exemption from corporate tax to be relevant for the Department calculating KCGM’s environmental bond?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) Can the Minister explain why does the Department consider such matters as a lower gold price relevant for the Department calculating KCGM’s environmental bond?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister explain the reasons why for any figure significantly over $1 000 000 it would be difficult to justify not requiring the full bond?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 December 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
15 days
The Minister repeats his earlier answer and asks the Member to indicate how his questions are relevant to the cause of safety in the mining industry today.
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