❓ Question about the increase in mineral exploration activity in WA. The Minister's answer is delayed by political point-scoring, but eventually provides statistics showing an increase in prospecting licenses and exploration expenditure.
AnsweredQoN 855Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINING EXPLORATION ACTIVITY
855. Ms W.M. DUNCAN to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
Can the minister please update the
house on the recent surge in mineral exploration activity?
855. Ms W.M. DUNCAN to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
Can the minister please update the
house on the recent surge in mineral exploration activity?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kalgoorlie
for the question because, unlike the shadow Treasurer, who is more interested
in the Premier's backyard than the economy of Western Australia, the
member for Kalgoorlie and the Liberal–National government are focused
on the real issues that confront our state; that is, are we creating more jobs
and doing what is in the best interests of the people of Western Australia? I think
today we are seeing an example of what members opposite want to focus on. All
they are interested in is grubby politics in the Premier's backyard. It
is a shameful display of a future —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington! Members! This has all the hallmarks of a quick
deterioration. Stick to the question, thank you.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
I want to stick to the question, Mr Speaker —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call
you to order for the second time.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
The member for Girrawheen thinks talking about the economy is a waste of time.
The economy is a very, very important thing, member.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right. I am asking you now to bring some order back in here through the Chair
and let us do the business.
Several members interjected.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
While the rabble opposite continues to mumble about the dealings in somebody's
backyard, the member for Kalgoorlie genuinely wants to know about how this
government is advancing the state of Western Australia—that is what I think,
Mr Speaker, you and the people of this great state would be more interested in,
because what we are doing in mining is something to be proud of. Can I say to
members opposite that the tide is turning: 48–52. The economy is coming
back. Here we come! I can tell members that they are starting to look worried.
The member for Collie–Preston, too, is looking very worried. When we
talk about mining success —
Several members interjected.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
Let me tell the member for Collie–Preston a little bit about mining
success.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you! I do not want anyone having an aneurysm today.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
The member for Collie–Preston and the Leader of the Opposition are like
some post‑grunge pop rock band. They remind me a bit of Alanis
Morissette. Put a little wig on —
And isn't it ironic... don't
you think
It's like rain on your
wedding day
It's a free ride when you've
already paid
They say no to cleaner energy sources while sitting on a coalmine.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call
you to order for the first time, minister. I have given you some latitude. This
has to stop. Answer the question through the Chair; otherwise, you will sit
down.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
I am trying to answer the question, Mr Speaker, because what we have been
achieving in the mining sector is just an example. It is just a sector of our
economy that is coming back, and we have the statistics and data to show it. In
fact, we have had an increase in mining prospecting licence applications. They
have increased from 359 in the second quarter of this year to 653 in this
quarter. That is a fantastic achievement—82 per cent growth in
prospecting licences. This is on top of
a 25 per cent increase in mineral exploration activity in the past 12 months.
Members opposite do not want to listen; they are turning their backs on the
economy. Look at them!
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, member for Cannington, you are having two
private meetings. We are trying to conduct our business. Member for Mandurah, I
have called him to order. Minister, you have one minute to answer the question
and that is it.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Western Australia continues to attract the
lion's share of mining exploration expenditure in Australia at 61 per
cent or $871 million. This is a fantastic example of the economy being advanced
through Liberal–National government policies that support mining—something
that members opposite just do not get. They are half pregnant on uranium
mining; they are discretionary on whether or not they support hydraulic
fracturing throughout Western Australia; and they do not want cleaner energy
sources. But we continue to push the mining sector to its success, and gold is
a shining example of this, with an increase of 41 per cent in exploration in
the gold sector that is valued at $386 million. In 2015–16, we produced
$10 billion worth of gold or 195 tonnes. That is an outstanding achievement. It
was a great honour as the Minister for Mines and Petroleum to get out there to
Doray Minerals' Deflector gold project earlier this month. It is a great
new goldmine. I am going out to another one this Friday, when another goldmine
will open. I will conclude because members opposite clearly are not interested.
I know —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, that is enough—next question.
for the question because, unlike the shadow Treasurer, who is more interested
in the Premier's backyard than the economy of Western Australia, the
member for Kalgoorlie and the Liberal–National government are focused
on the real issues that confront our state; that is, are we creating more jobs
and doing what is in the best interests of the people of Western Australia? I think
today we are seeing an example of what members opposite want to focus on. All
they are interested in is grubby politics in the Premier's backyard. It
is a shameful display of a future —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington! Members! This has all the hallmarks of a quick
deterioration. Stick to the question, thank you.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
I want to stick to the question, Mr Speaker —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call
you to order for the second time.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
The member for Girrawheen thinks talking about the economy is a waste of time.
The economy is a very, very important thing, member.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right. I am asking you now to bring some order back in here through the Chair
and let us do the business.
Several members interjected.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
While the rabble opposite continues to mumble about the dealings in somebody's
backyard, the member for Kalgoorlie genuinely wants to know about how this
government is advancing the state of Western Australia—that is what I think,
Mr Speaker, you and the people of this great state would be more interested in,
because what we are doing in mining is something to be proud of. Can I say to
members opposite that the tide is turning: 48–52. The economy is coming
back. Here we come! I can tell members that they are starting to look worried.
The member for Collie–Preston, too, is looking very worried. When we
talk about mining success —
Several members interjected.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
Let me tell the member for Collie–Preston a little bit about mining
success.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you! I do not want anyone having an aneurysm today.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
The member for Collie–Preston and the Leader of the Opposition are like
some post‑grunge pop rock band. They remind me a bit of Alanis
Morissette. Put a little wig on —
And isn't it ironic... don't
you think
It's like rain on your
wedding day
It's a free ride when you've
already paid
They say no to cleaner energy sources while sitting on a coalmine.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call
you to order for the first time, minister. I have given you some latitude. This
has to stop. Answer the question through the Chair; otherwise, you will sit
down.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE :
I am trying to answer the question, Mr Speaker, because what we have been
achieving in the mining sector is just an example. It is just a sector of our
economy that is coming back, and we have the statistics and data to show it. In
fact, we have had an increase in mining prospecting licence applications. They
have increased from 359 in the second quarter of this year to 653 in this
quarter. That is a fantastic achievement—82 per cent growth in
prospecting licences. This is on top of
a 25 per cent increase in mineral exploration activity in the past 12 months.
Members opposite do not want to listen; they are turning their backs on the
economy. Look at them!
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, member for Cannington, you are having two
private meetings. We are trying to conduct our business. Member for Mandurah, I
have called him to order. Minister, you have one minute to answer the question
and that is it.
Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE : Western Australia continues to attract the
lion's share of mining exploration expenditure in Australia at 61 per
cent or $871 million. This is a fantastic example of the economy being advanced
through Liberal–National government policies that support mining—something
that members opposite just do not get. They are half pregnant on uranium
mining; they are discretionary on whether or not they support hydraulic
fracturing throughout Western Australia; and they do not want cleaner energy
sources. But we continue to push the mining sector to its success, and gold is
a shining example of this, with an increase of 41 per cent in exploration in
the gold sector that is valued at $386 million. In 2015–16, we produced
$10 billion worth of gold or 195 tonnes. That is an outstanding achievement. It
was a great honour as the Minister for Mines and Petroleum to get out there to
Doray Minerals' Deflector gold project earlier this month. It is a great
new goldmine. I am going out to another one this Friday, when another goldmine
will open. I will conclude because members opposite clearly are not interested.
I know —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, that is enough—next question.
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