Question On Notice No. 58 asked in the Legislative Council on 14 June 2017 by Hon Robin Chapple
Question Directed to the: Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to application for Exploration Licence 28/2653 by Golden Pig Enterprises Pty Ltd whose sole director is Mr Victor Miasi, a former senior Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) employee, and ask:
(a) is it correct that a surrender was lodged for E28/1634 on 12 October 2016 at 14.40pm in Perth and within approximately 6 or 7 minutes an application for exploration licence E28/2653 by Golden Pig Enterprises Pty Ltd was applied for at 14.46pm on the same day made over part of this land;
(b) if no to (a), what is specifically correct;
(c) did the DMP send a letter to Golden Pig Enterprises Pty Ltd asking them to provide an explanation as to how the applicant became aware of the surrender of E28/1634;
(d) if no to (c), why not;
(e) if yes to (c), what was the explanation given by the applicant, and what specific date did this occur;
(f) did the DMP send a letter to Golden Pig Enterprises Pty Ltd asking them to explain whether the applicant for E28/2653 has any relationship with the previous tenement holders of E28/1634 and in addition asking the applicant to explain how a decision was taken to apply for the surrendered ground;
(g) if no to (f), why not;
(h) if yes to (f), will the Minister please table the letter provided by DMP;
(i) if yes to (f), what was the explanation given by the applicant; and
(j) if yes to (f), will the Minister please table the applicant's response?
Answered on 16 August 2017
I am advised by the Department for Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety as follows:
(a) Yes
(b) Not applicable
(c) Yes, via electronic mail dated 6 December 2016.
(d) Not applicable
(e) In the affidavit of the Director of Golden Pig Enterprises Pty Ltd dated 16 December 2016, the applicant swears that he became aware of Renaissance WA Pty Ltd and Gel Resources Pty Ltd’s intention to relinquish Exploration Licence E28/1634 in a social encounter with a director of a company known as Emerald Resources Ltd. No date of this encounter was given.
(f) Yes
(g) Not applicable
(h) No
(i) In the affidavit of the Director of Golden Pig Enterprises Pty Ltd dated 16 December 2016 he swears that there are no common directors or any corporate connection between Golden Pig Enterprises Pty Ltd and the former tenement holders Renaissance WA Pty Ltd and Gel Resources Pty Ltd. He further swears Golden Pig Enterprises Pty Ltd decided to make the application on the basis that the area had become available, there was a prospect of gold mineralisation and the previous holder had publicly announced results from its prospecting and drilling programme.
(j) No