Statement by Scott Barklamb, AREEA Executive Director Policy & Public Affairs
AUSTRALIA’S resource employers thank former West Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Bill Marmion, for his support for our industry and service to Western Australia during his three year tenure in this critical and often challenging portfolio.
Minister Marmion has taken a highly considered, common sense approach to regulating one of Australia’s most important industries, and has been generous with his time and engagement at several AREEA industry events.
Significantly, he leaves the mines and petroleum portfolio with Western Australia ranked as the world’s most attractive destination for mining investment (source: Fraser Institute, Annual Global Survey of Mining Companies 2015).
We wish him well in his new role as Minister for State Development.
AREEA and our members throughout Western Australia also welcome and congratulate Sean L’Estrange’s promotion to Cabinet as the new Minister for Mines and Petroleum. After serving on important parliamentary committees, Minister L’Estrange takes on a central portfolio for the West Australian economy and community.
While the Premier has described today’s reshuffle as a commitment to diversifying the state’s economy, there is no question that the ongoing success and growth of the state’s resources sector remains critical to Western Australia’s economic, employment and community wellbeing.
Iron ore remains Australia’s most important export and Western Australia is responsible for the vast majority of it. By 2020, Australia is also forecast to be the world’s largest exporter of LNG, driven in substantial part by major West Australian projects.
Key priorities for Minister L’Estrange should be encouraging ongoing resources exploration and looking at new ways to ensure West Australian resource projects successfully transition from feasibility, into construction, and then production – delivering ongoing royalties and jobs for the state for decades to come.
With suppressed commodity prices and other economic challenges, all eyes will be on lifting productivity, cutting red tape and supporting innovation and agility within Western Australia’s resources marketplace.
AREEA looks forward to working with Minister L’Estrange in tackling these issues.
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