AREEA (Australian Mines and Metals Association)
AUSTRALIA’S national resource industry employer group, AREEA, welcomes the Queensland Government’s overhaul of approval processes for coal and mineral exploration in the state.
Announced today by Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps, the new administrative efficiencies intend for general exploration permits to be ruled on within 90 days of application.
Applications subject to native title considerations will be decided within 12 months.
“It currently averages almost two years for a resources company to get a response on whether its minerals exploration permit in Queensland has been approved or rejected,” says AREEA executive director Scott Barklamb.
“For an industry that directly employs 75,000 people in Queensland and many more in allied construction and servicing sectors, the current delay is simply not good enough.
“Australia is competing for new resource industry investment in an increasingly global marketplace. Streamlining approvals for new exploration activity is critical to restoring some of our nation’s competitive edge that has been eroded in recent years.
“AREEA commends the Queensland Government for leading the way on more efficient and competitive regulatory and administrative processes.
“We are confident these proactive moves by our states, when implemented alongside the Abbott Government’s Exploration Development Incentive scheme, will breathe new life into Australia’s exploration sector.
“The exploration sector delivers the R&D for larger mining projects from which massive economic and employment benefits flow. When vibrant and healthy, exploration activity is the cornerstone of a growing national resource industry.”
AREEA also commends the Queensland Government for balancing the interests of native title holders, land owners and agriculture operations within its new exploration approval processes.
Representing the majority of Australia’s resource industry employers, AREEA members in Queensland operate across all areas of the state’s mining, oil and gas sectors as well as allied construction and servicing sectors.
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