Question On Notice No. 474 asked in the Legislative Council on 31 October 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 a newspaper article titled, Gorey: Reforms to cut through red tape, dated 14 June 2012, which appeared on page 13 of the Kalgoorlie Miner and comments directly attributed to Phil Gorey, Executive Director of the Department of Mines and Petroleum, and ask:
(a) is it correct that Dr Phil Gorey told the Kalgoorlie Miner "It is not about making the rules harder, having more paperwork, it is about having the most efficient environmental regulations";
(b) if no to (a), what specifically did Dr Phil Gorey state to the Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper on this matter;
(c) if yes to (a), does the Minister now support regulatory reform which makes the rules harder, increases the level of compliance paperwork and complexity and ultimately costs on the industry;
(d) can the Minister explain how the Reforming Environmental Regulation (RER) program would cut down on costs of compliance, red tape and remove uncertainty for people operating within the industry;
(e) if no to (d), why not;
(f) can the Minister explain how the "industry could be bigger" in terms of comments made by Mr Phil Gorey;
(g) if no to (f), why not;
(h) did Mr Phil Gorey state to the Kalgoorlie Miner that "We do get complaints and they might be from landholders, the community, even other operators, but by and large the environmental performance of the industry from prospectors to exploration to mining the operations are pretty good";
(i) if no to (h), what did Mr Phil Gorey specifically state to the Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper on this matter;
(j) if yes to (h), does the Minister stand by the statements made that by and large the environmental performance of the industry from prospectors to exploration mining operations are pretty good;
(k) is the RER reform process aimed at reducing and eliminating duplication, reducing the level of paperwork required to be submitted to the DMP, reducing costs and complexity for prospectors or miners who seek departmental approval to conduct both exploration and mining operations;
(l) if no to (k), why not; and
(m) if yes to (k), why and how will this be achieved?
Answered on 5 December 2017
(a) I am not aware of the content of the newspaper article.
(b) Given the answer to question (a), this question is not applicable.
(c) Given the answer to question (a), this question is not applicable.
(d) The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has implemented a risk based regulatory framework that ensures its regulatory effort is targeted and proportionate. Key changes in online business systems, guidance materials and pre-application client consultation have reduced end-to-end approval timeframes and freed up time to undertake more compliance activities, which is in line with the community expectations regarding environmental stewardship.
(e) Given the answer to question (d), this question is not applicable.
(f) Given the answer to question (a), this question is not applicable.
(g) Given the answer to question (a), this question is not applicable.
(h) See answer to question (a).
(i) See answer to question (a).
(j) Given the answer to question (a), this question is not applicable.
(k) These were some of the objectives of the RER program. Other intended outcomes were to improve environmental outcomes for the community of Western Australia.
(l) Not applicable
(m) The risk based regulatory framework introduced ensures regulatory effort is targeted and proportionate. Specifically for prospectors and low impact mining operations, DMIRS has tailored and revised regulatory products for these clients.