In a statement, Megan Davison, Executive Director, Minerals Council of Australia – Victorian Division notes that the Victorian Division’s 2016-17 pre-Budget Submission calls on the government to develop a strategic vision for the industry, including a sustained exploration strategy, developed in consultation with the sector.
“A Victorian minerals industry strategy will provide an avenue to reverse the decline in investment in Victoria, and once again make the state a destination of choice for minerals development.
“The submission encourages the government to complete its reform of the Earth Resources Regulator according to the timelines published, so that a modern, transparent, well-governed regulator is in place by mid-2016.
It further calls on the government to:
- Audit the range of reviews, reports and inquiries that have taken place over the past decades with regards to earth resources and present a stocktake of the initiatives and recommendations that have been made in the past and whether the measures have been implemented. This should include the bipartisan Economic Development Committee’s 2012 Inquiry into Greenfield Mineral Exploration and Project Development in Victoria
- Collate, publish and release up-to-date data on the industry
- Improve its commitment to minerals project facilitation by providing appropriate levels of funding for Minerals Development Victoria, better inter-agency integration and a true ‘one stop shop’ that provides a single point of entry for project proponents
- Continue with its development of a brown coal policy and strategy for Victoria, including the assessment of energy demand and ways to foster brown coal innovation; recommit to support for brown coal development programs
- Complete the suite of the regulation and legislative reform processes underway.
“The government should reaffirm that the minerals industry is valuable and valued in the state.
“Victoria needs to get serious about capturing its share of economic prosperity that comes with a successful mining industry.”
