WESTERN AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Voice ‘won’t fill heritage law void’

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Original article by Paige Taylor, Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Aug-23

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has apologised for his government’s ill-fated Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, which will be repealed just five weeks after taking effect. He concedes that the controversial laws had "unintentionally caused stress, confusion and division in the community". Cook adds that the intent of the legislation was to "prevent another Juukan Gorge", but the government had got the balance wrong. WA will revert to the 1972 cultural heritage laws, which will be amended to include provisions such as giving traditional owners the right of appeal. Meanwhile, Indigenous leader Tom Calma says the proposed Voice to parliament will have a federal focus and will not advise on state cultural heritage issues unless a state approaches it for such advice.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Scandal-plagued Perth Mint could be privatised

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Original article by Rebecca Le May
The West Australian – Page: Online : 21-Apr-23

Western Australia’s Mines Minister Bill Johnston has indicated that "all options are on the table" for the Perth Mint in the wake of concerns that it has breached anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The government has commissioned an independent review of the state-owned Gold Corporation, which operates the Perth Mint, and it has not ruled out privatisation. However, shadow mines minister Mia Davies notes that Labor and Premier Mark McGowan have regularly stated that privatisation is not the answer.

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PERTH MINT, GOLD CORPORATION PTY LTD, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF MINES, INDUSTRY REGULATION AND SAFETY

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for WA FIFO and mining workers

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Original article by James Carmody
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 6-Oct-21

The Western Australian government has advised that all workers in the state’s mining and energy sector will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This includes ‘fly-in, fly-out’ workers and all visitors to resources projects in the state. The directive will apply to about 100,000 people, who must have their first vaccine dose by 1 December and be fully vaccinated by the start of 2022. Premier Mark McGowan says that amongst other things, the ‘no jab, no job’ policy will protect remote Aboriginal communities; he notes that the mining sector is the largest employer of indigenous people in regional WA.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Gorgon LNG permits slashed by decade

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 12-Jan-21

Chevron will be required to renew its permit to operate the Gorgon LNG export facility on Barrow Island more frequently after the Western Australian government decided to amend it. Chevron was granted an amended 20-year permit in July 2018, but Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has reduced this to just 10 years, arguing that this is sufficient. The Conservation Council of WA had lobbied for Chevron’s permit to be reduced to just three years. Shipments from the Gorgon project commenced in March 2016. Gorgon is expected to be operational for about four decades.

CORPORATES
CHEVRON CORPORATION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION, CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

WA flags battle over GST split

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 12-Jan-21

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says other states and the federal government must not seek to change the existing arrangement for distributing goods and services tax revenue. WA’s share of GST revenue is currently $0.70 in the dollar, having fallen to a low of about $0.30 in the dollar during the last mining boom. New South Wales in particular has criticised the GST equalisation deal, but McGowan argues that NSW now receives more than $0.90 in the dollar from GST revenue. He has also urged the federal government to resolve the ongoing trade tensions with China.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

WA to keep approving mines while new heritage laws in limbo

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 12-Jan-21

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says Rio Tinto’s destruction of ancient indigenous rock shelters at Juukan Gorge will continue to have repercussions across the mining sector. However, McGowan says his government will not accept any blame for delays in project approvals in the wake of the scandal, arguing that mining companies are now likely to be more cautious about approving projects. He adds that the state government will continue to approve mining projects under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act, and that new heritage laws will be a priority if it wins the election in March.

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RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Shipping industry baulks at extra fees at Port Hedland for iron ore – Australia’s most important export

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Original article by Karen Michelmore
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 12-Jan-21

The Pilbara Ports Authority will introduce a $13,450 levy on all large iron ore shipments from Port Hedland, beginning on 1 March. The Western Australian government will use the levy to finance a buyback of up to 400 dust-affected homes in Port Hedland. The levy has been criticised by Shipping Australia CEO Melwyn Noronha, who says it is inappropriate for ship operators to be required to pay to address the dust problem. Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan contends that similar levies have been used to recover costs in the past.

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PILBARA PORTS AUTHORITY, SHIPPING AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF TRANSPORT

Iron ore miners dig in for fight over capacity at Port Hedland

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 23-Nov-20

Iron ore producers Mineral Resources, BHP, Fortescue Metals Group and Hancock Prospecting have been asked to contribute to an independent review to determine the maximum capacity of Port Hedland. The Western Australian government wants the review to be completed by December, and it comes after the mining companies rejected the government’s call for a $10 billion outer harbour to be constructed at Port Hedland. Growth plans outlined by the four companies amount to output of at least 690 million tonnes per annum, while the government believes that Port Hedland’s maximum capacity could be pushed to around 650 million tonnes.

CORPORATES
MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD

Sinosteel cautions Oakajee doubters

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Original article by Peter Ker, Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 22-Oct-19

Western Australia’s Premier Mark McGowan says he would welcome any move to proceed with the stalled Oakajee port and rail project, after Sinosteel’s recent deal to acquire Mitsubishi’s interest in it. However, Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan ha expressed doubts regarding the $10bn project’s viability. Stuart Griffiths, the CEO of Sinosteel Midwest, says people should keep "an open mind" on the issue, adding that good quality iron ore will always be in demand.

CORPORATES
SINOSTEEL CORPORATION, SINOSTEEL MIDWEST CORPORATION LIMITED, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG

WA ditches carbon offset rules

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 4 : 15-Mar-19

Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority has agreed to shelve new guidelines on emissions-intensive projects following intervention by the state government. Premier Mark McGowan stepped in following meetings with representatives of energy producers. The EPA will undertake further consultation regarding its proposed rules on carbon offsetting for new industrial projects. Oil and gas producers had expressed concern that the proposed guidelines would jeopardise a number of new projects in the state.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, CHEVRON CORPORATION, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY