PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has lashed out at the Victorian government, saying that much-needed new jobs and investment in the resource sector were being delayed or missed owing to antiquated approvals processes and uncertainty.

MCA acting executive director for Victoria Gavin Lind on Friday also criticised the state’s permanent ban on all onshore unconventional gas exploration and development.

“Despite Victoria’s minerals prospectivity, the state’s international attractiveness as a destination for minerals investment continues to fall.  And existing projects, including in East Gippsland, are languishing due to slow decision-making and poor coordination between agencies,” Lind said.

At the same time, the Victorian government’s "regressive energy policies", including its anti-science ban on unconventional gas exploration and development, were sending a chill through the entire Victorian mining industry, he added.

“The reality being experienced on the ground is completely different to Victoria’s stated policy position.

“Just last year, the Regional Economic Development and Services review, chaired by The Honorable John Brumby, recognised the potential for development of Victoria’s earth resources, such as mineral sands, to ‘drive inclusive growth and create regional jobs’. The review laid out key reform priorities, including transformative activities to improve Victoria’s international competitiveness by reducing lengthy and costly delays while maintaining safety, health and environmental protections.

“Yet, action to take advantage of this opportunity was absent from the government’s resulting priority-setting Regional Statement.”

Lind warned that without reform, Victoria would miss its chance to turn growing global demand for its minerals, such as mineral sands and gold, into high-skill, high-wage jobs and investment. 

“In the interim, the Victorian government should at least appoint a designated agency to focus on how best to bring forward the benefits of the state’s minerals endowment.

“This would be the first critical step forward and a welcome departure from a series of regressive moves.”