Mining and Petroleum

Mining and Petroleum

Greens: Government failure to regulate miners is key to WA’s success in miners favourite’s list.

1 March 2012

“Today Minister Moore crows about a Fraser Institute survey of Mining companies pleased with the investment environment in WA, but the Fraser Institute has ignored the Auditor General’s 2011 Report “Ensuring Compliance with Conditions on Mining” that shows this favourable investment environment is built on the government’s regulatory failure, said Mr Chapple, Greens MLC and spokesperson on Mining.

“The government’s regulatory failure is placing workers lives at risk with poor safety inspections, the environmental regulators don’t have the resources to check if miners are complying with environmental conditions, and the heritage regulation is so poor that sites are being destroyed before the department takes action.

“While mining companies may find this a “favourable environment”, it’s not good enough for the people of Western Australia.

“There is nothing for this government to be proud of in these results, they’ve curried favour with the mining companies at the expense of our safety, environment and heritage.

“The Auditor General’s report into mining compliance is a much better reflection of the reality of mining in WA, and the government should focus on addressing the serious flaws raised in that report. The Auditor General concluded that current practice does not provide overall assurance on compliance with conditions, and that while financial returns are well managed, environmental and social returns are not well monitored.

 

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

Grave concerns remain after license granted to Lynas - Senator Scott Ludlam & Robin Chapple MLC.

The Greens have expressed grave concerns over the Malaysian Government's approval for a new rare earth refinery in Pahang.

West Australian Senator Scott Ludlam said many local residents, environment groups and other parties were still deeply troubled by the proposed refinery and the process by which it has been established.

"In early January the Malaysian press was reporting severe restrictions on the public's ability to access information about the proposed plant. After almost a year of protests from locals and environmentalists forced Lynas to revise plans, the Australian company and Malaysian authorities were still reticent to reveal all. Why?" said Senator Ludlam.

Greens WA MLC Robin Chapple said rare earth mining and refining had caused controversy in China - the world's leading source of the minerals.

"One of the major reasons China has reduced its rare earth output and exports since 2009 was the government and public concern that mining and refining operations were causing excessive contamination to surrounding areas."

"The original proposal was to process as well as mine in Mount Weld, Western Australia, and to export the refined rare earth. We are concerned that thousands of tonnes of this unprocessed material containing radioactive thorium will be transported through Fremantle in road trains, in the same bags and using the same method employed for the lead exports by Magellan."

"We still believe that the material should be processed at Mt Weld and the toxic legacy placed back in the ground from where it came from rather than be left in piles on swampland in Malaysia," said Mr Chapple.

Senator Ludlam said public pressure had caused changes from the Malaysian authorities and the company, but serious concerns remained.

"The original plan looked like a cowboy job - raising a lot of questions. Protests by residents and NGOs since early last year saw a march on Malaysia's parliament and a demonstration at the Australian High Commission. Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency made a series of recommendations to reduce risks posed by the plan, including a better long-term waste management plan, leading the government to impose additional safety standards - but there has been a lack of transparency."

"When Malaysia's Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry announced Lynas had applied for a temporary licence, the Ministry stated it would display the application documents for public feedback before reaching their decision. Unreasonable restrictions were placed on public viewing of the documents. It was reported only one person was allowed to view the 300+ page document at a time for a maximum of one hour. If the public could view the document for a 14 day period, in an office open seven hours a day, but only one person at a time for a maximum of one hour, there was essentially a smoke and mirrors consultation process," said Senator Ludlam.



Media Contact: Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302 & Robin Chapple - 0409 379 263

Barnett may be considering Horizontal collaboration: Greens

Colin Barnett’s commitment to protect the West Kimberley’s Horizontal Waterfalls from mining operations is wavering, Greens MLC Robin Chapple said today.

“In August this year the Premier stated that he “supported protecting parts of the west Kimberley, including the Horizontal Waterfalls in Buccaneer Archipelago” but he now seems to be hedging his bets.”

“At the recent Pegasus Metals AGM the company made the claim that the Premier was supporting their copper mining project at Horizontal Waterfalls.”

“I followed up this statement with a Parliamentary Question as to whether Mr. Barnett would protect the area from copper mining, and the Premier’s answer was ambiguous as far as protecting the area is concerned.”

“Mr. Barnett’s answer was that the EPA declined to formally assess Pegasus exploration activity near the Waterfalls due to their low impact, despite both the exploration camp and drill site being very close to the waterfalls and visible from the air.”

“Local tour operators are not happy that a mining exploration site is clearly visible in an area long advertised, and regarded as, pristine.  This is the beginning of the end for a tourism icon if the exploration is allowed to proceed, to say nothing of ongoing environmental impacts.”

“What is most outrageous about Mr. Barnett’s answer is that he concedes that his government will consider any proposal from Pegasus to mine the area, rather than reject it outright.”

“This flies in the face of the Premier’s prior commitment to protect the Horizontal Waterfalls from mining activity, and the Heritage Listing of the area by the Commonwealth.   He appears to be playing both sides on the matter and in the process, endangering one of the country’s great environmental and tourism areas.”

“According to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs, the State's position is that ‘no exploration and mining will be allowed around the Horizontal Falls that would in any way compromise the environmental and tourism values of the Falls.’  Anyone who has been to the site would recognise that this should preclude any exploration or mining at all.”

“Mr. Barnett needs to clarify his position to both Pegasus and the local business people whose livelihoods depend on a viable, pristine future for the Horizontal Waterfalls.”

Click here for Mr. Barnett’s response to Mr. Chapple’s Parliamentary Question (PDF).

Click here for the the full text (PDF) of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs letter regarding mining at the Horizontal Waterfalls.

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

Uranium royalty rate won't pay for toxic legacy: Greens

Greens MP Robin Chapple has moved to block the State Government from introducing a 5% royalty on uranium exports from WA.

“The Greens oppose uranium mining in Western Australia. It is not like other mining because uranium fuels the nuclear cycle which is inherently dangerous at all its stages. It is destined to become nuclear waste or even nuclear weapons”, Mr Chapple said.

“The Barnett-Grylls government has proposed royalty rates of 5% for uranium. I’ve moved to disallow the regulations and Parliament will debate this in the New Year.”

“5% royalty is less than the royalty on iron ore – less than the royalty on many other mining operations in WA.”

“The argument that uranium should be rated at 5% because it is shipped as a concentrate fails to properly consider the full impact of uranium mining on the State and community of WA. Royalty rates are intended to reflect as assessment of the benefits to the community.”

“Uranium mining leaves a legacy of radioactive waste at the mine site for tens of thousands of years.   It has been proven to be hazardous to workers in the industry and has caused a terrible toll in deaths and health issues throughout its history.”

“This is a legacy which the State of WA will ultimately be responsible for – and the royalty rates should reflect this very significant future liability.”

“The highly radioactive nature of uranium mining requires establishing an expensive new regulatory regime in WA – and the community shouldn’t be picking up that bill. Miners should be covering that cost.”

“I will be working over summer with my colleagues in the Legislative Council to impose a much higher royalty on Uranium when this matter is debated in early 2012.”

“I call on the National Party to consult with their constituents about this matter over the summer. The royalties to regions program will have little to gain from a 5% royalty on uranium – yet it will be regional communities who face the local consequences of uranium mines imposed in their areas.”

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263

Greens: Supreme Court decision must lead to halt at James Price Point

6 December 2012

Greens MP Robin Chapple called on the state government to take this opportunity to halt the gas development James Price Point.

The Supreme Court this morning declared the government’s notices to take land at James Price Point invalid.  The notices are invalid because they didn’t actually set out what land was going to be taken.

“This is an example of the Barnett/Grylls government rushing to issue the notices to take land, ignoring basic legal principles, in an effort to force an agreement from Traditional Owners.

“The Chief Justice held that “there was some force” to the argument that the Government’s approach was patronizing – as the Government had argued it was OK to issue a vague notice to take remote Aboriginal lands, but accepted that a notice to take land in the city would need to be properly detailed.

“This government is not a law unto itself – the Barnett/Grylls attitude of development at full speed and any cost must stop.

“Barnett should dismiss Lands Minister Grylls for this appalling process, or take full responsibility himself.

“There must be a complete halt of works at James Price Point. I call on the government to take this opportunity to back away from the unpopular James Price Point Gas hub, concluded Mr Chapple, Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region.

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

 

Greens call for Inquiry into DIA handling of FMG damage to Yindjibarndi sacred sites

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens call for Inquiry into DIA handling of FMG damage to Yindjibarndi sacred sites

9 November 2011

Greens MLC Robin Chapple today calls for an Inquiry following exposure of serious concerns about the Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) process surrounding Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) applications for mining works at sacred sites.

Mr Chapple asked Parliamentary questions of the Indigenous Affairs Minister last night. The Minister indicated he was aware of the serious allegations contained in a letter from a whistleblower archeologist. The allegations centre on DIA continuing with an approval process in which FMG caused reports to be altered, provided misleading information and failed to report sacred sites.

The Minister responded that DIA were commencing an investigation.

“There are serious questions to be answered about how DIA have handled this matter. It is simply not good enough that DIA investigate their own practices., said Mr Chapple.

“Coming after the damning report of the Auditor General, which found that DIA has not effectively monitored or enforced compliance under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, this cannot be allowed to go on.

“The Minister must establish an independent Inquiry into this matter, otherwise our heritage protection laws are just a farce, concluded Mr Chapple.

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

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