Question Without Notice No. 131 asked in the Legislative Council on 22 March 2018 by Hon Robin Scott
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
PROSPECTORS — ACCESS DEEDS
131. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
(1) Is the Minister for Mines and Petroleum aware of an article on page 1 of the Kalgoorlie Miner of Monday, 19 March 2018 headed ''Fears for miners' rights''?
(2) Has the minister noted that the article attributes to prospectors concerns that Minara Pastoral Holdings has asked prospectors to sign so-called access deeds?
(3) Will the minister confirm that the Mining Act makes no provision for access deeds?
(4) Will the minister ensure that employees of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety neither encourage nor persuade nor coerce prospectors and small miners to sign access deeds?
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question. The Minister for Mines and Petroleum has provided the following information.
(1) The minister is aware of this article.
(2) Yes.
(3) There is no provision in the Mining Act 1978 for access deeds.
(4) It is up to individual prospectors to make their own decisions regarding whether they choose to enter into such third party agreements. This is already understood by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.