Mining and Petroleum

Mining and Petroleum

Proposal Ties Up Loose Ends

Tuesday, 21 November 2017

 

The Greens (WA) spokesperson for Mines and Petroleum, Robin Chapple stated support for the proposed new changes to the Gold royalty hike.

Mr Chapple - who asked for small miners and prospectors to be protected from the gold royalty hike when it was first introduced – believes the new changes tie up some of the loose ends of the previous proposal.

“I still believe it isn’t fair for this Government to target the Gold industry on its own, however these changes are a reasonable step forward.

 “I’m particularly glad to see the government has changed the 2500 ounce threshold so it now more closely resembles the condition first introduced by my colleague Giz Watson in 1997,” Mr Chapple said.

“When the gold royalty was originally introduced the 2500 ounce exemption only applied if the company remained below the threshold.

“Importantly, once a company moved past the 2500 ounce threshold they then had to pay royalty on the first 2500 ounces.

“These new changes mean the first 2500 ounces of gold produced by anybody will be exempt from the gold royalty increase.

“Also, the industry assistance program isn’t just a positive break for smaller miners, it is a great tool to ensure the accurate reporting of mining companies’ profit and losses,” Mr Chapple added.

Media Contact

Robin Chapple – 0409 379 263

Fracking inquiry scope of consultation must be expanded to get bigger picture

Thursday, 2 November 2017

The WA Greens have questioned the government on the scope of their independent fracking inquiry, after stakeholders raised significant concerns there would only be three community consultation meetings; one each in Perth, the Mid-West and the Kimberley.

Mines and Petroleum spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC said the timeline of the inquiry, which is due to report its findings by August 2018 and will hold all of its community consultation in a 2 month period over Christmas, only added to his concerns that the process would be rushed.

“Quite clearly one year is nowhere near enough time to consult with all of the individuals, communities and stakeholders who have an interest in the future, or lack thereof, of fracking in the state of Western Australia,” Mr Chapple said.

“You cannot hold a single community meeting in the Kimberley and then claim you’ve undertaken consultation for the region; there are literally hundreds of different stakeholders just in that region alone and they all deserve an equal opportunity to be heard.

“I guarantee you that every single energy company who has even the slightest interest in developing parts of our beautiful, fragile state for unconventional gas production will get a hearing with this inquiry.

“So too should every single farmer, every single remote community member, every single community that has declared themselves gas-field free and any other individual or group who has a genuine interest or concern about this industry.

“It is common practice with inquiries of this nature for an interim report to be handed down and further consultation to be undertaken if necessary. If the scope of this inquiry is not significantly expanded then it is in very serious danger of becoming a rubber stamp.”

Please see attached answer recieved last night regarding the fracking inquiry Terms of Reference.

Media contact:

Tim Oliver – 08 9486 9965 // 0431 9696 25

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