WA Greens Mining spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC said comments made this week by the Australian Conservation Foundation on the potential “toxic legacy” of failing to properly rehabilitate mine sites were particularly relevant for WA.
“Western Australia already has a terrible legacy of more than 18,000 abandoned mine sites – that’s more than 35 per cent of all abandoned mines in Australia,” Mr Chapple said.
“Mineral Policy Institute’s new report has found that most of these mine closures are unplanned and a result of economic and market forces - it’s something I’ve been talking about since first coming into office in 2001.
“Whilst the state government’s Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) has the potential to be an effective measure to deal with the issue of abandoned mine sites, this system must be in tandem with a bond system over active mine projects.
“Recently, the Victorian government announced a plan to increase the environmental bonds over high-risk La Trobe valley coal projects to 100% of estimated rehabilitation cost over the next 18 months.
“Western Australia has done the exact opposite, retiring over a $1 billion worth of bonds in favour of a one per cent levy that has accumulated just $57 million to date.
“We need a stronger bond system reinstated to accurately reflect the high risk nature of mineral extraction in today’s volatile economic climate, particularly in the fossil fuel industry, and we need to increase the MRF levy to fix the massive problem we already have
“This is not a new problem for our state, but it has been on the backburner for way too long.”
A link to the Mineral Policy Institute Report can be found below.
For comment please contact Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.
WA Greens spokesperson on Mining and Petroleum Robin Chapple MLC said he supported farmers and communities across WA “100 per cent” in their opposition to fracking.
“The WA Greens always have been and always will be opposed to the practice of hydraulic fracturing for gas, anywhere and at any time,” Mr Chapple said.
“A moratorium as proposed by the Labor Party is only a delay, or a temporary suspension of fracking in Western Australia; I ask the Labor party ‘a delay until what?’ If anyone were to look at their public record, much like the incumbent government, the Labor party have a strong history of supporting unconventional gas in Western Australia.
“I went to an incredible, thought-provoking presentation last night by a man from Wyoming, USA; a rancher by the name of John Fenton who has been living, not by choice, in the midst of an unconventional gas field.
“He detailed the challenges his family have faced trying to continue farming with unwanted gas fracking operations on their property including sickness, widespread water contamination and diminished rights to do anything except plead for measly compensation.
“If Western Australia goes down this path then the concerns of farmers in the Mid-west and South-West and pastoralists in the Canning Basin in the Kimberley, will be vindicated.
“We absolutely cannot let this destructive industry flourish in our state, particularly in our most fertile food-growing areas and fragile ecosystems.
“Rather than dismiss the lived experiences of people like John Fenton as ‘scare tactics’ I would urge this government to have some humanity and accept the overwhelming evidence about this industry and the horror that comes with it.”
For comment please contact Media Liaison Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.
WA Greens Mining spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC said the government should learn from Victoria, who today announced coal mines in La Trobe Valley would be ordered to pay the full cost of rehabilitation over the next year.
“Environmental rehabilitation bonds for those coal mines are currently worth approximately 25% of the estimated value of rehabilitating those sites, very similar to the Unconditional performance bond system we had before the introduction of the MRF,” Mr Chapple said.
“Unlike WA however, the Victorian government appreciates the risk involved with those mines and is taking steps to ensure they are properly rehabilitated if and when those mines, or coal itself, are no longer viable.
“Meanwhile, we have done away with our bond system and replaced it with a levy of just one per cent; whilst other states move forwards, Western Australia moves further backward!
“In theory, the MRF is a fantastic system that can be drawn upon to deal with the more than 18,000 legacy and abandoned mine sites across the state.
“But it is fundamentally ineffective at dealing with environmental devastation and financial risk to taxpayers; active mine liability.”
For comment please contact Media Liaison Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.
