Question On Notice No. 86 asked in the Legislative Council on 27 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 Mining Lease 31/157 owned by Saracen Gold Mines, and ask:
(a) can the Minister state what is the minimum total financial expenditure commitment/requirement on Mining Lease 31/157;
(b) if no to (a), why not;
(c) can the Minister explain the justification by also making reference to the statutory declaration which was provided as to why application for exemption number 485068 was refused on Mining Lease 31/157;
(d) on what specific date was the statutory declaration lodged with the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) to support the application for exemption number 485068;
(e) will the Minister now table a copy of the statutory declaration lodged with DMP to support the application for exemption number 485068;
(f) if no to (e), why not;
(g) is it correct that on the same day as the application for exemptions were refused the DMP issued an application for forfeiture;
(h) if no to (g), what is specifically correct;
(i) can the Minister state what is the specific calculation methodology used by the DMP to calculate a recommended or suggested fine in relation to the application for forfeiture and the refusal for the applications for exemption from expenditure requirements;
(j) if no to (i), why not;
(k) what was the monetary fine imposed on Mining Lease 31/157 as a result of the applications for forfeiture by the DMP;
(l) is it correct that previous exemptions from financial expenditure requirements were granted in the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 for Mining Lease 31/157;
(m) if no to (l), what is specifically correct;
(n) can the Minister state what is the justification and importance of making tenements holders comply with lodging mineral exploration reports under section 115A of the Mining Act 1978;
(o) if no to (n), why not;
(p) can the Minister state what is the specific calculation methodology used by the DMP to calculate a recommended or suggested fine for non-compliance in lodging mineral exploration reports under section 115A of the Mining Act 1978;
(q) if no to (p), why not;
(r) for the entire term of the tenement on Mining Lease 31/157, can the Minster state what were the monetary penalties imposed for each respective year for non-compliance with section 115A of the Mining Act 1978; and
(s) if no to (r), why not?
Answered on 5 September 2017
(a) $11 900.00 minimum expenditure commitment per annum.
(b) Not applicable
(c) I am advised that the information provided in the statutory declaration was insufficient to support a grant of the applied for exemption.
(d) 10 May 2016
(e) No
(f) Information may contain commercial in confidence material and should be properly assessed under the Freedom of Information Act.
(g) Yes
(h) Not applicable
(i) Yes. For the first offence it is 10 per cent of shortfall with minimum of $550.00 if individual or $650.00 if body corporate. For the second offence it is 20 per cent of shortfall with minimum $1100.00 if individual or $1250.00 if body corporate. For the third and subsequent offence it is at the Minister’s discretion
(j) Not applicable
(k) $1365.00
(l) Yes
(m) Not applicable
(n) The minerals belong to the State, with tenement holders exploring for them under licence. Reports submitted under Section 115A provide evidence of compliance with tenement conditions and when released after a period of confidentiality, improve the efficiency and reduce the economic and technical risk of exploration by industry in the longer term.
(o) Not applicable
(p) $60 per week for an individual or $90 per week for a body corporate per tenement from the date of issue of the Regulation 50 notice until the lodgement of the mineral exploration report.
(q) Not applicable
(r) 2014 only - $90.00.
(s) Not applicable