CMPA: Representing Industry To Government

A key part of the work of the CMPA is to act as an industry champion, informing Government on behalf of its Members on the impacts of proposed Government policy and to work towards reducing red tape and help to reduce operating costs. CMPA Executive Director ROGER BUCKLEY provides a summary of this work.

THE CMPA has developed strong working relationships with many arms of Government to ensure the quarry industry has not been burdened with additional costs due to red tape.

A total of 74 written submissions have been presented by the CMPA to Government over the last five years.

The 16 submissions presented to Government over the last 12 months are summarised in the table below.

This formal written aspect is on top of the countless meetings and site visits with Government officials that have also occurred.

Sometimes our voice is heard, sometimes it has not been listened to as well as it might have.

But there is no doubt that without the CMPA acting on behalf of the independent construction material operator and moderating some of the Government proposals, the additional costs and time of recent new red tape would have been considerably more.

VCEC Inquiry & Extractive Industry

In January 2010, the State Government handed down its response to the Victorian Competition & Efficiency Commission (VCEC) recommendations that were derived from the VCEC Inquiry into Environmental Regulation.

This was an important Government review as native vegetation and extractive industry were keys areas considered.

CMPA made 2 submissions to the inquiry in October 2008 & July 2009, including the Case Study’s from the An Unsustainable Future report. The An Unsustainable Future report was not finalised by the time submissions were due so the full report was not provided to the inquiry.

The An Unsustainable Future report Recommendation 9 stated that the VCEC recommendations relevant to extractive industry should be implemented. The Government has supported the VCEC recommendations to varying degrees. The table above summarises the Government response.

For extractive industry, the Government has really only tinkered around the edges and not attempted to correct the key issues as identified in the An Unsustainable Future report.

CMPA needs to continue to work with Government to ensure industry issues are recognised and resolved.

This work will include:

• Meeting with Minister for Energy and Resources, Hon Peter Batchelor.
• Continued discussion with DPI on review of the legislation.
• Meeting with DSE & AAV and other agencies to discuss issues raised in the An Unsustainable Future report.
• Develop a succinct industry policy statement for the 2010 State Election.

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