From the Secretariat (Issue 108)
Challenges for 2020
Dr Elizabeth Gibson, General Manager CMPA discusses the challenges ahead for 2020.
Bushfires
The current situation with the bushfires impacting the state of Victoria, in particular East Gippsland and the North East Regions is very concerning. The CMPA offers its support to you in whatever way we can to assist your business that maybe directly or indirectly affected by the bushfires. Earth Resources Regulation has also been in touch with those that may be impacted by the bushfires with a view to assisting quarries to get up and running again by fast tracking infrastructure rebuild and priority given where appropriate to fast tracking notification and variations of work plans. This is to enable a speedy but orderly recovery from the bushfires.
General Environmental Duty (GED)
Under new Environment Protection laws, you must understand your business’s activities and their risk of harm to human health and the environment. The GED comes into force on 1 July 2020. The CMPA will endeavor to assist Members through a workshop to be held in May 2020.
MRSD (Extractive Industries) Regulations 2019 (Regulations)
The Regulations will be implemented on 26 January 2020 and will have far reaching and costly consequences for rehabilitation plans. The CMPA Secretariat will work with the Resources Division to ensure that any guidelines produced will mitigate these consequences in addition to being practicable and proportionate.
Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust (RCSD)
Safe Work Australia has set a Workplace Exposure Standard of 0.05 mg/m3 (down from 0.1 mg/m3) for RCSD that has been adopted by the Victorian Government with an action level set at 0.02 mg/m3. It currently applies to all industries with no exceptions despite the low prevalence of silicosis in the quarry industry (see feature article).
The CMPA Dust Management Guideline (2016) and the CMPA pre employment health assessment proforma; CMPA periodic health assessment proforma; CMPA exit employment health assessment proforma; and CMPA instructions for medical practitioners. These updates will assist Members with meeting their legislative obligations.
Senior Resources Policy Adviser to Minister for Resources
Adam Olive has departed from the Office of Minister for Resources to take on a new role outside Government. Thank you to Adam for his support for the extractive industry. The challenge here is continuity with 4 advisers and three different Ministers for Resources in the last 3 years. Finally, welcome to Grace de la Lande into the role of Senior Resources Policy Advisor who we look forward to working with.
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