https://www.miningweekly.com

WA mining industry welcomes state Cabinet appointments

20th March 2013

By: Esmarie Iannucci

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Australasia

  

Font size: - +

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian mining industry has welcomed Premier Colin Barnett’s new Cabinet appointments, but has urged the new members not to waste time in implementing commitments made during the state election campaign.

The newly elected Barnett on Wednesday announced the new state Cabinet, appointing former Environment Minister Bill Marmion to take on the mantle of Mines and Petroleum Minister.

Albert Jacob has been appointed the new Minister for Environment and Heritage.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) said on Wednesday that it was looking forward to working with Marmion, and has urged the new state government to implement commitments made during the run-up to the state elections.

Of particular interest was the expansion of the Department of Mines and Petroleum’s approvals tracking scheme into the Department of Water, the Department of Environment Regulation and the Environmental Protection Authority.

The CME said the development of a publically available online biodiversity, water and cultural heritage database and virtual library was also of import, along with the creation of a separate dedicated environmental regulatory department to look over all environmental approvals, associated enforcement and waste management functions.

The CME noted that the major challenge facing the state’s resources sector was the rising cost of doing business.

“Our attractiveness as a place to develop resources projects is under threat due to additional layers of taxation and charges which are driving up business costs,” CME CEO Reg Howard-Smith said.

“Policy initiatives that focus on reducing costs, duplication and red tape will deliver ongoing economic benefits to all Western Australians.”
 
Howard-Smith added that Barnett’s strong statement opposing additional levies and taxes on the resources sector showed a clear understanding of the challenges faced by the sector.

Meanwhile, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) said Marmion’s previous role as Minister for Environment and Water had prepared him well for his new portfolio.

“Leading up to the state election the Liberals released their Mines and Petroleum Policy, which recognised numerous recommendations from the Amec Policy Platform. Key commitments included allocating additional funds to expand the existing approvals tracking system and the continuation of the existing Exploration Incentive Scheme,” said CEO Simon Bennison on Wednesday.

“Amec is looking forward to working with the new Cabinet to ensure these commitments are implemented.”

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Showroom image
Alcohol Breathalysers

Supplier & Distributor of the Widest Range of Accurate & Easy-to-Use Alcohol Breathalysers

VISIT SHOWROOM 
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd

For over 60 years, VEGA has provided industry-leading products for the measurement of level, density, weight and pressure. As the inventor of the...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.125 0.159s - 88pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now