MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ISSUES

SUBMISSIONS

Budget submission to Victorian Government.

In response to the Honourable Candy Broad, Minister for Energy and Resources’ request for input into the 2001 / 2002 budget, the CMPA completed a submission during January 2001. Many issues were canvassed and in summary some specific comments included:

• The impact of continual compliance is placing a real financial burden.
• A request for more unified road funding from all levels of government. That this nationally proposed register of road funds (local, state and federal)
• should be available to the public and have audit compliance mechanisms in place.
• That land tax assessments are disproportionate to the level of revenue derived. For further information refer to the article in the previous issue of CMPA News.
• Annual review of royalties on crown land and recognition that rates be based on market values.
• Extra funds to the DNRE for collection of statistical data, to facilitate informed decision making in administering legislative controls over the industry. Also increased funding of the Department to enable the introduction of joint industry and department safety and environmental management programs.
• The necessity for industry training on total compliance with the Extractive Industry Development Act [EIDA] 1995 has resulted from sun setting of the 1989 regulations. [Old habits are hard to break!]. As such special case financial support was urgently sought for access to education.

EPA Draft Air Quality Improvement Plan.

The membership will welcome Dr Lin Denison and Bill Millard, respectively the EPA’s Manager and Policy Officer as guest speakers at our the 1^st June 2001  meeting. 

Members are strongly advised to revisit the CMPA’s Submission on this issue, which was posted under cover of the minutes dated 23^rd February 2001.

We were disappointed with the EPA’s initial response to our submission, and need indisputable proof that:

• That monitoring is even handed.
• It would be equable to the present persons owning Work Authorities.
• It would not inhibit future entry of persons into our industry.
• That there is a proven and affordable technology.
• That it will not be used to scare and stop future business development.
• How will the Regulatory Impact Statement address the many issues raised in our situation?

Please contact the Secretary if a copy is required.

MEMBERS ISSUES.

Are royalties collected on mine by product?

As a result of a members request at Meeting 6, an investigation commenced into whether mining companies selling waste product into the market pay equivalent royalties on that product, as would a work authority holder. Progress on this issue will be outlined at the meeting on June 1^st 2001 reported in the next issue of CMPA News.

DNRE Hire Service on Geophysical Equipment Cancelled.

In response to a request from a member following Meeting 7, we sought and received confirmation through David Lea the Executive Director of DNRE that the Department’s equipment is no longer available for hire. David commented that that the Department does not have either the staff or budget to maintain equipment to a level which any hirer should expect, such as pre and post hire checks.

As a result of this decision the CMPA holds concern that the standard of information included on work plans will be lower due to a lack of full disclosure of integrated geological information. It is of interest to note that this machine was being hired for more than $200.00 per day and if this recording equipment is required by persons developing work plans then it will need to be sourced from interstate at both a cost and time penalty. One wonders what’s the point!

DNRE and Workcover Authority jurisdiction over quarries.

It has been confirmed in a January 2001 Memorandum of Understanding between these two state government organisations, that both hold jurisdiction over quarries in certain areas, and that in these areas the Quarry Manager must notify both organisations. These areas include investigation of serious incidents [subject to legislated restrictions on disclosure of information], fatal incidents, in an emergency situation. Where staff representing either authority believe it necessary to order a cessation of work at a particular site then one would make the decision and inform the other as soon as practical thereafter. In the event of potential prosecution involving areas of joint jurisdiction then both parties would consult with a view to determining the most appropriate legislation to be used for prosecution.    

A copy of the subject Memorandum of Understanding is available to members through the Secretary.

CMPA Rules.

A copy of the second draft was presented to members for review and comment ahead of the 1st June 2001 meeting, following the Management Committees’ review of the first draft document.  This document inclusive of agreed alterations from the meeting would be presented for ratification at a future Special General Meeting, the date for which will be set that night. 

Australian Bureau of statistics [ABS]

Statistical Forms and you!
Ever feel like this about your ABS and NRE statistical information returns?

Why bother with statistics? Statistical information provided by Government departments gives the producer knowledge. Statistics from your industry are as important as navigation is to air transport!

What if you had good reasons to fill them in?

• “How can we tell where we’re going if we don’t know where we’ve been” 
• The information you provide assists the government in decision-making and the planing process.
• You or your Association can access published results to gain a better understanding of you industry or to benchmark your own business.
• Both NRE and ABS are committed to assisting with more data for the construction materials industry, however the data cannot be compiled without your responses on the completed forms.

Good Enough?
Confidentiality?  The information you provide is confidential the data produced is only released in aggregate form

Come on lend a hand!

But Mr. Statistician in return we want our hard work filling out forms to lead somewhere!

What do we want from statistical information?

• We want up to date data of where we are as an industry.
• Industry data to benchmark our own businesses.
• Industry data on a state-by-state basis, to create a benchmark, nationally. With really comparable data between the states.
• Availability of data to compare our industry with the rest of the wider economy.
• Things like “investment to turn over ratios,” missing from our data since 1989. As we are capital-intensive businesses that type of trend can show the relative health of our industry.
• Aggregate data that politicians and Government departments can use and understand. So that when we are hurting the trends in the data reveal the facts. And the policies and decisions are related to empirical reality.
• The derived data form our statistical forms must be able to be related to effects of things like Government spending on roads. For example how useful would it be to relate regional tonnage to Vic Roads spending? So the real effects of infrastructure spending in relation to the effect on our industry could be measured. Then decisions on road funding could be reviewed fairly and equitably.

We’ll give more but we need more information back!

SAFTEY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION.

CMPA Induction Handbook

The CMPA’s Induction Handbook ‘Final Draft’ will be presented to members at 1^st June 2001 meeting.            

EDUCATION

Practical Training For Potential Quarry Managers

Discussions have taken place between Larry Arnost of Box Hill Institute and our CMPA Education representatives. A joint review the Certificate 4 Course is under way and the revised criteria expected as that outcome, should be presented within two months. We have been advised that Box Hill must comply with specific parameters in order to maintain financial support, and so accept that our recommendations may need to be blended into the existing structure as opposed to immediate implementation. 

The CMPA position is that there should be a more user-friendly entry built into the existing course structure, correspondence of 12-month duration, and Work Safety accreditation be used as a vehicle. The course content needs to be more practical including information on how to fill out accident statistics and to change a screen cloth. If employers could see this value then there would be less hesitation to embrace the course because these skills will add value to the bottom line, and assist in proof of competency in the most practical way.

We must prepare students through ensuring that they achieve a minimum set of requirements before they attend Box Hill, support them through their time there, ensure that they have managerial responsibility during and following their training, and monitor the value they bring into the business as a result.    

Employees should be shown a structured path option for potential managers, covering a four year period, involving time at the quarry face, on the sales loader, and in areas of processing, plant, weighbridge, and maintenance. In conjunction with other qualifications this will ensure a well-rounded knowledge of the business which they are being trained to manage.

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