Business Update (Issue 16)

By on July 15, 2004

In the Pipeline

As part of an active industry Association, it is important that you are kept aware of the issues that the CMPA sees as affecting members in the next three to six months.

If you see anything missing or would like to assist in any way, please contact the Secretariat:

  1. Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act and the Victorian extractive industries.
  2. Finalisation of the EPA’s Guidelines for Environmental Management in the Extractive Industries
  3. Release of a contract for the Capital Acquisition and Selection Reference Manual
  4. Finalisation and release of CMPA Fact Sheets pertaining to silica and noise management.
  5. Preparation for a pair of Mobile Plant Workshops to be held in March 2005 in Bendigo and Traralgon.
  6. The establishment of a protocol for banks to use when assessing the value of commercial leases.
  7. Commencement of the review of the Extractive Industries Development Act
  8. Finalisation and release of the remaining three drilling publications.
  9. Finalisation and release of the Work Record Book for members use
  10. Establishment of a Business Support Board to assist members in serious difficulty.

Rehabilitation Bond Update—The Good, the Bad and the Neutral

Submitted by Mary Thompson

We recently received the Department of Primary Industries’ paper on rehabilitation bonds which we consider a very positive step forward. We would welcome feedback from members once they have read this paper and our response.  (A  full copy of the paper is available from the CMPA along with our response).

The Good …

  • – The proposal to distinguish between mining and extractive industries, with the latter potentially subject to a reduction in the frequency of reviews and acceptance of greater variation between assessed and actual bonds.
  • The proposal for new Departmental guidelines on establishment of liability.

The Bad …

  • – The paper suggests that there is little support for industry wide insurance or levy-based schemes. However the door has been “left open” to further submissions, something the CMPA intends doing in the near future. Would you prefer to stay with the current bond system or pay a levy based on your annual production tonnage?

The Neutral … (no formal policy position by CMPA as yet)

  • – The paper contends that quarries on land owned by the quarry operator may have greater incentive to rehabilitate. Do you agree? Proposal to investigate supplementing Bank Guarantee systems with Department administered Cash Bonds system as existed in the past. Would you use this system if the Department set it up?

 In our response we also requested clarification of aspects of continuous rehabilitation, an area where members have told us they are having difficulty in combining legislative requirements with efficient operation of their businesses. What experiences are you having with meeting continuous rehabilitation requirements?

 I would welcome any feedback, preferably by email. Please email any comments enquiries@cmpavic.asn.au with the subject heading “Rehabilitation Bonds Feedback”.

2004-05 WorkCover Premium Model

By now all members should have received the booklet “Your Workplace Injury Insurance 2004-05” in preparation for renewal.

Key dates include:

30 July:  Complete and return Declaration of Rateable Remuneration form
31 August: Last day to take up the buy-out option
1 October:  Due date for annual (discounted) premium. Due date for first instalment.
1 November: Final due date for annual premium without discount.

Transport Workers Award Update

Members are advised that a Full Bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission has varied the award in line with the Safety Net Review Decision 2004.

The award has been varied by increasing wage rates for adults. Proportionate increases will apply to Juniors, apprentices and trainees.

Work related allowances have also been varied in line with the decision.

These variations took place from July 3rd, 2004.

Angahook Otway Investigation
Summary submitted by David Eldridge

The right to explore earth resources needs to be maintained within the ‘Forest Park’ boundaries, as is proposed. Some of the committee representatives at the meeting were concerned with the proposed land use under a Forest Park draft. If the forest Park proposal were to change, then exploration rights for earth resources would need to be protected under any new land management.

While accepting that there can be no new extractive industry licenses within a National Park, the right to continue operation of existing work authorities needs to be guaranteed. No extensions to work authorities will be permitted after implementation of the National Park.

Agricultural land use adjacent to ‘Forest Park’ or National Park will have no restrictions or expectations different to any other private land use.

It should be recommended that work authority buffer zones against Forest Park boundaries be no different to being adjacent to any other private or pubic land use.

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