MINING ACT — EXPLORATION LICENCE APPROVALS
549. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon Dr Brad Pettitt, who is out of the chamber on
urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to Odessa Minerals'
application for an exploration licence for tenement 04/2697 that encroaches
into the Windjana Gorge National Park.
(1) Can the
minister detail what procedures are in place to meet the requirement in the
Mining Act 1978 to consult with the responsible minister before approval for
mining in a national park can be given?
(2) Can the minister
indicate what procedures are in place to meet the requirement in the Mining Act
that before a mining or general purpose
lease is granted for mining in a national park, both houses of Parliament
must, by resolution, consent to it?
Hon
MATTHEW SWINBOURN replied:
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
(1)–(2) The application is reviewed against coexistent
tenure, including national parks, to identify any requirement for ministerial consent. If the applicant intends
to undertake mining within the national park, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, under
delegations, writes to the Minister for Environment seeking concurrence
to mining being carried out in the national park. The application is then
submitted to cabinet, together with schedules of conditions and resolutions
seeking the consent of each house of Parliament. The minister, or his
representative, then presents a resolution to each house by way of notice of
motion and obtains their consent thereto.