Mining and Petroleum

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC has accused the Premier of operating behind a veil of secrecy when it comes to ongoing development plans of the Browse Basin.

“In response to a series of questions in Parliament regarding the Government’s plans for the extraction and processing of Browse Basin gas and petroleum, the Premier has refused to tell the people of Western Australia which companies are currently considering the development of a processing facility at James Price Point,” Mr Chapple said.

“While some companies have clearly indicated that they would be using floating technology, the Premier insists that some are seriously considering establishing an LNG precinct and associated industries, such as fertilizer and explosives factories, at James Price Point, but he won’t say who they are,” Mr Chapple said.

Another Parliamentary question, citing the Supreme Court’s decision of 19 August 2013 that declared the environmental approval of the Browse LNG precinct invalid and asking if it was now time for the government to abandon its plans to develop James Price Point, drew a refusal to do so.

“Indeed, the Minister for the Environment was at pains to point out that ‘the State intends to continue with the necessary approvals to provide for future opportunities for LNG development’.

“With comments such as these, one could be forgiven for wondering who is looking after the environment,” Mr Chapple said.

“Secrecy also surrounds planning documents such as the Dampier Peninsula Planning Strategy. More than a year after its development, this document still hasn’t been released for public comment even though it has been endorsed by the Statutory Planning Committee. Yet it forms the basis of the Local Planning Scheme currently under preparation by the Shire of Broome.

“Members of the community are crying out to be part of this process, a cry that is being ignored by a Premier who thinks he knows best,” Mr Chapple said.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

Mining Rehabilitation Fund Flaws Exposed

Wednesday 28^th August 2013

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam and Greens WA spokesperson on Mining issues, Robin Chapple MLC, today blasted the Liberal/National state government over its flawed mining rehabilitation regime, after damning new evidence of its fundamental weakness came to light.

Senator Ludlam said “The Greens have been the only party to stand up and condemn the Barnett/Grylls government for watering down what was already a pitifully inadequate scheme.

“This week’s revelation that Reed Resources’ subsidiary GMK Exploration has gone bust just weeks after its prior environmental performance bond obligation was removed, shows just what a manifestly inadequate system we now have in place.

“In a scenario reminiscent of the bad old bottom-of-the-harbour scheme days, we have now seen in stark relief what can and will happen under these incredibly lax new arrangements.

“This was always going to be a high risk strategy by the government – they are playing fast and loose with the massive problem of how to pay for remediating the thousands of abandoned minesites across the state, many hundreds of which are in a shocking state, posing huge dangers to the environment”, said Senator Ludlam.

Mr Chapple continued, “To introduce such an inadequate system at the beginning of a downturn in the mining investment cycle, leading inevitably to less income for the fund, just heightens the irresponsibility of what the Liberal/National government has done.

“It will take many decades for the new fund to accumulate anything like enough funds for the job at hand – meanwhile it’s the taxpayers who are left to pick up the tab.

“What is sorely needed here are severe penalties, even under the Criminal Code if necessary, otherwise the cowboys at the fringes of the mining industry can just walk away from their responsibilities”, concluded Mr Chapple.

Monday 19 August 2013

Greens WA Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, Robin Chapple MLC, today welcomed the decision by the Chief Justice to uphold the Wilderness Society case against the validity of the approvals process around the James Price Point (JPP) gas hub development.

“This very good decision removes the last vestige of cover from the shameful maneuverings and posturing of the Barnett/Grylls Liberal/National government in its attempts to railroad its preferred position through the environmental oversight process.

“There has been a litany of mistakes made by the government through this whole sorry affair.

“From the botched compulsory acquisition, to the use of the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) to override local wishes, to the Premier’s pressuring then-environment Minister Marmion into allowing the flawed Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) decision to stand – it has been a disaster from start to finish.

“And unfortunately this is not the finish – because the Premier continues to stick to his dogged personal campaign to open up the Kimberley to all sorts of inappropriate development.

“I just hope the decision today will go some way towards allowing Mr Barnett a way out – he can rule a line under this, and walk away with some dignity, and say ‘Well, the highest authority in the state has spoken – let’s move on and look at other options’.

“If not, then I fear the Traditional Owners, local residents, and their supporters around the country, will only be in for a brief respite of celebration, followed by a return to the all-too-familiar confrontation and imposed rule-from-afar that has characterized the Barnett/Grylls approach to the Kimberley.

“As we know from last year, Mr Barnett rushed into law a State Agreement Act allowing virtual open slather on activities at JPP –and this is now the real danger, because there is nothing stopping processing of onshore gas from fraccing, large port development, and any number of other large-scale industries – subject only to agreement between the parties to the Act, with little or no Parliamentary scrutiny.

“The land acquisition is still in the Premier’s sights; the development of port infrastructure is approved; we have seen how easily workers camps and the like can be rubber-stamped by the Government’s Kimberley DAP – so while we celebrate today’s decision, this is no time to let down our guard,” Mr Chapple warned.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 9965

19^th August 2013

“Shocking news has come to light with the information that the Burrup Peninsula is once again under serious threat. Burrup Materials Pty Ltd has taken out a number of leases for mining activities in this area, which is of significant importance to the Roebourne Aboriginal community.

“This area is on the National Heritage List, thanks to the former federal Liberal government, and has been extensively surveyed, revealing thousands of petroglyphs (ancient Indigenous rock carvings).

“The Burrup has the largest concentration of rock art in the world, and is an extraordinary cultural landscape telling the story of ancient Aboriginal occupation over the past 30,000 years.

“Hamersley Iron (owned by Rio Tinto) was the former owner of the area now in question, but recently handed the lease back to the state government because of its heritage values, and to ensure that the rock art would never be mined.

“It is noted that in the Warden’s Court on Friday the 24^th of May 2013, Hamersley Iron lodged an objection against the 3 leases held by Burrup Materials Pty Ltd, a single entity company directed by Mauritz Leon Kurt.

“How the government could even let such a crazy proposal get to first base defies belief.

“This state is the subject of growing international concern, as the value of the Burrup as an archaeological treasure becomes more widely known – unless the government clearly demonstrates that projects such as this latest one are not welcome on the Burrup, we will become an object for ridicule.

“I appeal to the Premier to stop this continued vandalism once and for all, and give the Burrup Peninsula the protection it deserves,” concluded Mr Chapple.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255