CORONAVIRUS —
RESOURCES SECTOR
642. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister
for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the government's
current legislative attempt to reduce red and green tape in the planning and
development sector, attempting to help with the recovery of the economy from
COVID-19.
(1) Is the
government planning to cut red and green tape in the mining sector to help with
the economic recovery from COVID-19; and, if yes, what are those plans; and, if
not, why not?
(2) Is it the
government's position that removing red and green tape in the mining
sector would have more economic benefit to the state than reducing red and
green tape for the planning and development sector?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum.
(1)–(2) The
government has streamlined administrative processes to support the mining
sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and
beyond. Assessment times for exploration activities will be halved, commencing
1 July 2020. The government is currently considering further reforms to mining
environmental approvals to assist in the recovery of the Western Australian
economy.