Meeting with the Treasurer and Minister for Resources, The Hon Tim Pallas MP

DR ELIZABETH GIBSON, General Manager of CMPA provides a summary of the meeting with the Treasurer and Minister for Resources, The Hon Tim Pallas MP

The Hon Wade Noonan MP resigned as Minister for Resources on 4 October 2017. The CMPA would like to extend their appreciation of the support the Minister extended to the extractive industry and wish him well in his future endeavours.

A meeting was held with the new Minister of Resources The Hon Tim Pallas, MP (also Treasurer) on 2 November 2017 and was attended by CMPA’s Garry Cranny (Chairperson), Ron Kerr (Hon. CEO) and Dr Elizabeth Gibson (General Manager). The purpose was to raise current concerns for the extractive industries and to introduce the Minister to CMPA.

Issues raised

• The Minister was congratulated on his new role and his initiative for the review of Earth Resources Regulation (ERR) currently underway that is led by Anna Cronin ERR, Commissioner of Better Regulation.

• Impacts of regulation on the Work Plan approval process such as Native Vegetation Clearing Regulations were discussed.

• The disconnect between Government aspirations for State growth (i.e. affordable public and private infrastructure and residences) and support/capacity for the extractive industries to match current and future State growth forecasts.

• Separation of mines from quarries in the legislation.

• The introduction of the risk based work plan and lack of a regulatory impact statement.

• The length of time, cost and uncertainty for an authorised Work Authority compelling CMPA to undertake a review of these barriers and obstacles, the first part being a review into VCAT decisions for the extractive industry.

• General poor performance of Earth Resources Regulation (ERR) with the industry expected to pay for the recent reformation of ERR which has yet to yield any benefits to the extractive industry.

• Concern of the ability of ERR to represent itself with confidence and respect, for example, at VCAT. A query was made regards the lack of compliance to qualifications in respect to the Mineral Resources Sustainable Development Act 1990.

• Comment was made as to whether family business will be able or willing to invest in the state as the risks associated with Work Plan variations and Greenfield sites are continually increasing.

• CMPA was willing to work with Government to find solutions.

The Minister was given the CMPA’s “Review of VCAT decisions for the Extractive Industry” and the paper outlining “Financial implication of the introduction of risk based Work Plans” and extended an invitation to visit quarry sites.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login