CORONAVIRUS —
RIDGES IRON ORE PROJECT
1215. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the grants, subsidies and
allowances given by government to the extractive mineral industry in response
to the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrangements of these grants and the rationale
for granting these allowances.
(1) Is the minister aware of the Ridges iron ore
project, which boasts 49 per cent local employment, 14 per cent of which
is local Indigenous employees and contractors?
(2) Is the
minister aware that the Ridges iron ore project was awarded no allowances,
grants or subsidies from COVID-19 funding, unlike other extractive mineral
projects in the state?
(3) On what grounds were the
allowances awarded to proponents?
(4) For what
reason was the Ridges iron ore project not given the financial support made
available under COVID-19 grants that has been awarded to other similar
projects?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The following information has been provided by the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
(1) Yes.
(2) The McGowan
government has implemented a range of initiatives to support the state's
mining sector that includes the Ridges iron ore project. These initiatives
include: a reduction in the mines safety levy from 21� to 17� per billable hour;
an expiration expenditure exemption for tenement holders unable to meet expenditure requirements as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic; a reduction in the dangerous goods licence fee; a reduction
in the amount of time allowed for an objection to be lodged; a $5 million
increase in the funding for the exploration incentive scheme; and the
streamlining of administrative procedures through the acceptance of electronic
signatures on documents.
(3)–(4) Not applicable.