STATE AGREEMENTS — CONCESSIONS
15. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister
representing the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade:
(1) Will the
minister confirm that in an article published in the Kalgoorlie Miner of
Wednesday, 6 February 2019, Hon Mia Davies, MLA, wrote, in reference to BHP and
Rio Tinto: ''For decades, the WA Government has provided the companies
with long-term leases, tax concessions and specific measures to cut through
normal planning and environmental processes''?
(2) What access to long-term leases not available to
other companies has been provided to BHP and Rio Tinto?
(3) What tax concessions have the WA government provided to
BHP and Rio Tinto?
(4) What
specific measures to cut through normal planning and environmental processes
have the WA government provided to BHP and Rio Tinto?
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN
replied:
I thank the member for the question. The Minister for State
Development, Jobs and Trade has kindly provided the following answers, even
though the first question clearly is not within the purview of the government.
(1) Yes.
(2) Long-term
leases are available to all companies, including state agreement companies,
based on the legislation of the day and specified operational requirements. The
1963 and 1964 state agreements provided for the principal mining lease to be
continually renewed if it was required for mining under the relevant state
agreement.
(3) The 1963
and 1964 state agreements did not provide tax concessions. The state agreements
historically provided concessions in relation to stamp duty for a limited
period of time.
(4) Companies
operating under state agreements are required to comply with the provisions of
the state agreements, which are subject to the Environmental Protection Act
1986.