1. Delivering outcome-focussed environmental protection laws that are nature positive 

2. Faster decision-making and clear priorities to provide certainty to project proponents 

3. Restoring integrity and trust to environmental decision making through establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). 

The response notes Government’s intention to streamline approvals processes and accredit state authorities under new National Environmental Standards to facilitate one-touch approvals. CME has welcomed this intention and will continue to highlight the need for bilateral accreditation to be prioritised in the implementation of these reforms.  

With $87 billion in medium and long-term projects in the WA pipeline – projects essential to decarbonisation and Australia meeting net zero ambitions – approvals are an extremely significant factor in whether these projects can come online within necessary timelines. 

CME will continue to work alongside our members to review the response in full ahead of an exposure draft being developed in the first half of 2023. 

 
Contact: Anita Loguidice, Senior Adviser – Environment & Sustainability 
Email: a.logiudice@cmewa.com

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Members who are eligible for the incentive have been contacted by CME and nominated for their donation to be paid to one of these three charities:  

1. Aurora Foundation – Delivers an academic enrichment program for Aboriginal students to complete Year 12 by building their resilience, identity, aspirations and sense of community. Students in this program have far higher ATAR attainment rates than comparable students. 

2. Earbus Foundation – A WA-based charity reducing the incidence of middle ear disease in Aboriginal and at-risk children across the state, including the Pilbara, Goldfields and Peel regions. The charity brings together experts across clinical health, education, culture and community. 

3. Foodbank – Foodbank is the largest, most trusted hunger relief organisation in Australia, providing food and groceries to charities and school breakfast programs in every State and territory. Foodbank operates in the Perth metropolitan area and has distribution centres in Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, and Boulder. 

Thank you to members who completed their surveys on time and helped support the above charities.  

Members please be advised CME’s survey portal will close on 23 December. For the submission of late responses, please contact CME at survey@cmewa.com.   

Contact: Liz Crompton, Policy Adviser – Industry Competitiveness (L.Crompton@cmewa.com)  

Critical Minerals Strategy 2023  

The Federal Government has announced development of a new critical minerals strategy. The strategy will outline priorities for the development of the critical minerals sector, including the creation of economic opportunities and achieving the opportunities of the net zero transformation. 

To support the strategy’s development, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources has released a discussion paper and invited public consultation. The paper discusses the role of critical minerals in supporting clean energy technologies and considers how Australia might capture global clean energy opportunities by expanding the critical minerals sector into downstream processing. Submissions to the discussion paper will close on 3 February 2023.  

Critical minerals and global decarbonisation were also a focal point of discussion when CME met with the Foreign Investment Review Board in Perth on 24 October. Discussions in the meeting covered some of the challenges and opportunities for minerals and energy investment in WA, specifically in relation to the development of critical minerals and rare earth projects.  

Contact: Suzanne Eyles, Specialist – Industry Competitiveness (S.Eyles@cmewa.com).  

National Reconstruction Fund 

As part of the October 2022-23 Federal Budget, the Government announced establishment of a $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund (NRF). The NRF is intended to diversify and transform Australia’s industry and economy, and will invest across seven priority areas including: 

• renewables and low emissions technologies 
• transport 
• value-add in resources 
• enabling capabilities. 

The NRF will provide finance, including loans, guarantees and equity, and operate commercially to deliver a positive rate of return. The Department of Science Industry and Resources has released a consultation paper and is seeking feedback on the design and implementation of the NRF, including the investment mandate. For further information on the fund and consultation (submissions close 3 February) please see the department’s website.  

Contact: Liz Crompton, Policy Adviser – Industry Competitiveness (L.Crompton@cmewa.com)  

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I was fortunate to catch up with many of our members at the annual CME Christmas function at Lamont’s Bishops House last week. It was a great event, with fantastic addresses from Premier Mark McGowan, Minister Madeleine King and Minister Bill Johnston.

There has been plenty on the policy agenda for CME of late, including the progress of new industrial relations legislation through Federal Parliament and the recent responses by the Federal Government to the report published by the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia and the Samuels Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. 

In the past fortnight, CME also undertook media engagement around the WA Government’s progress update on the actions it is implementing as a result of the Parliamentary Inquiry Into Sexual Harassment Against Women In The FIFO Mining Industry. Eliminating all instances of sexual harassment and assault remains an absolute priority for the WA mining and resources sector, and CME’s Safe and Respectful Behaviours Working Group continues to make strong progress in relation to the recommendations from the Parliamentary Inquiry that were directed towards industry. 

I’d like to thank the entire team at the CME for their warm welcome in my first eight weeks in the job, and the support they have provided on a wide range of  issues. 

November also saw the WA Government launch the Resources Community Investment Initiative with the support of CME and member companies. Our industry has a proud track record of contributing over and above what it is required and helping fund important social and community initiatives throughout Western Australia.  It is pleasing that this initiative offers yet another mechanism for our industry to make a positive impact on everyday life in WA. 

From my own perspective, I’ve had the privilege of travelling to the Pilbara, the South West and the Goldfields  in October. It’s been great to get out to member company operations and speak to a variety of stakeholders on the ground about key issues. I recently attended the annual Miners’ Memorial event in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, which was a poignant reminder of the absolute focus on safety that our industry must always hold itself to. 

To those members I’ve had the chance to engage with so far, I thank you for the interest and generosity you’ve shown towards me. The very best part of this role is talking to our members about what’s important to them – both opportunities and challenges – and I look forward to catching up with many more of you over the months ahead. 

In addition to existing operations that are the backbone of State and Federal economies, our sector currently has $57 billion of resources projects under development and a further $87 billion in medium and longer-term projects in the pipeline – projects that will not only help shape our State’s future but play a pivotal role in global decarbonisation. 

I look forward to working closely alongside you all as these projects come to fruition, in 2023 and beyond, and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of our membership and stakeholders a happy, safe and healthy holiday period. 

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The crowd of more than 200 not only included important leaders from within the sector but also key government figures who regularly engage with our industry. Notable speakers on the night included WA Premier Mark McGowan, Federal Minister for Resources Madeleine King, WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum and Energy Bill Johnston, CME President Fiona Hick and CME CEO Rebecca Tomkinson.

All touched on the extremely significant contribution WA mining and resources makes to economies and communities around the State (and, indeed, across the country), while also reflecting on both the opportunities and challenges currently in front of our sector.

The venue for the event was the peaceful gardens of Lamont’s Bishops House, where guests were able to enjoy drinks and canapes as the sun set on a very pleasant day.

As these photos show, it was an excellent evening.

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The resources sector workforce’s mental health and welfare are a priority for our member companies, which is why CME was thrilled to sponsor the Mentally Healthy Workplace Award. This award provides workplaces with an excellent platform to highlight accomplishments and honour people who have supported mental health with a conspicuous drive for creativity, excellence and initiative. 

Congratulations to everyone who entered, the category finalists, and in particular the award winner Roy Hill. 

DMIRS Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards 

DMIRS and WorkSafe WA hosted the 2022 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards which recognised outstanding solutions and innovations to specific workplace health and safety problems in WA. Some 77 submissions were received, with 36 companies recognised as finalists.  

Congratulations to Lifeline WA and their program Resourceful Mind for winning the best intervention to address a psychosocial hazard in the workplace. Lifeline WA partnered with CME to co-design Resourceful Mind, a peer support initiative designed and customised for the resources sector.  The program provides mental health training for line managers, addresses mental health stigma, and increases workers’ mental health literacy. 

Recent DMIRS Publication  

DMIRS has released the following safety alert this month: 

• Incident Alert – Ammonium nitrate emulsion tanker trailer explosion 

Contact: Naomi Plummer, Policy Adviser – Health, Safety and People
Email: n.plummer@cmewa.com

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The agreement will inject more than $12 million into the WA Skills and Training Sector. It is estimated to see 8500 fee-free places in the care sector, 2400 places in technology and digital, 1900 places in agriculture, 1500 places in construction, 1400 places in hospitality and tourism, and 300 places in sovereign capability including manufacturing. Additionally, around 2800 places will be opened up in other sectors, including foundational skills. 

The agreement will increase opportunities and workforce participation of priority groups, including First Nations Australians, young people (17-24), people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, people with disability and certain categories of visa holders. 

The Skills Agreement will increase opportunities and workforce participation of priority groups and address skills gaps in the economy. The agreement includes an Australian Government commitment of $8.2 million from the TAFE Technology Fund to improve training facilities in Western Australia in addition to VET data infrastructure reform.  

There will be an upgrade to essential infrastructure for training in WA such as:  

• Transform Midland TAFE into a renewables jobs and training hub. 
• State-of-the-art kitchen at Bentley Pines Training Restaurant 
• The establishment of a trade training centre at Ellenbrook Secondary College. 

This new initiative includes accessing the Driller’s Offsider Employability Program for free. The Driller’s Offsider Employability Program was developed in collaboration with RITC, Industry and Government.  

The program includes training in first aid, CPR, working at heights and 4WD off-road training. 

This new initiative will begin on 1 January 2023. For further information head to Jobs and Skills WA. 

Contact: Karleigh Barras, Workforce Development and Training Adviser – Resources Industry Training Council
Email: k.barras@cmewa.com

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 The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) has published updated guidance documents, informed by the Phase 1 and Phase 2 co-design process, and are seeking input from stakeholders through submissions and workshops for the final round of co-design. 

Interested stakeholders are encouraged to register for the relevant workshops – details can be found on the DPLH co-design website along with copies of the Phase 3 co-design documents. CME participated in the workshop held in Perth on Wednesday 30 November. 

The development of these supporting documents is critical to the success of the regime, and CME will continue to input into the process of co-design to achieve a practical, workable regulatory framework which functions for all stakeholders.  

Please contact David Peirce via email d.peirce@cmewa.com or 0447 547 506 if you would like to discuss any element of this consultation.   

Amendments to Land Administration Act 1997 introduced to Parliament 

On Wednesday 23 November the Minister for Lands, Hon. John Carey MLA introduced the Land and Public Works Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 into WA Parliament. 

This legislation will enable various reforms, with the most critical for the resources sector being the introduction of a new leasehold tenure, diversification leases, and the associated consequential amendments to the Mining Act 1978 to enable these. Diversification leases are intended to facilitate a more flexible form of leasehold tenure, including providing for multiple concurrent land uses over Crown land. Of particular interest to the resources sector is the potential to use diversification leases to facilitate large scale renewable energy projects. 

CME has been closely engaged throughout this reform process and participated in targeted consultation on the draft Bill in October 2022. CME provided a submission and we understand no major amendments were made to the Bill prior to introduction.  

The Bill was introduced ahead of the end of the 2022 Parliamentary sitting calendar and is an important milestone in this significant legislative reform. We expect the Bill to return and pass in 2023, shifting the focus to the further work required to develop a policy framework to guide the Department and proponents in respect to the application and granting of diversification leases. 

CME will continue to ensure members are kept informed. Please contact David Peirce via email d.peirce@cmewa.com or 0447 547 506 to discuss.   

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Recently CME facilitated an Industry Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) discussion for our Pilbara mentors. As many members would be aware, access to ECEC is a challenge right across the state but these challenges are often more amplified in our regions, particularly in the North West. Members discussed a range of issues regarding ECEC in the Pilbara and workshopped ways to best align our industry and collaborate going forward.  

Also in November, CME facilitated a discussion to look at a collaborative approach to social investment in the Pilbara. The focus was on addressing issues and needs in our local Pilbara towns and communities. We are excited to see where we go with further discussions on this topic and look forward to ongoing engagement from our Pilbara members.  

Contact: Megan Brouwer, North West Regional Officer
Email: m.brouwer@cmewa.com

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Another highlight for the month was a CME site visit to Alcoa’s Wagerup Refinery and Larego bauxite mine.  The tour included a walk through a rehabilitated section of Alcoa’s Willowdale mine where the company’s representatives outlined the meticulous attention to detail that went into the successful native forest regrowth. 

CME regional officer Jason Mennell was kept on his toes with internal committee meetings and external stakeholder engagements.  That included the quarterly South West Regional Council meeting, a South West Human Resources forum, and a South West Community Collaboration Working Group forum.  At the Community Collaboration Working Group forum, the cohort reflected on the successful rollout of the CME’s Digital Technologies Program in the South West and expressed a collective desire to start looking at a new initiative that would benefit the broader community. 

Contact: Jason Mennell, South West Regional Officer
Email: j.mennell@cmewa.com 

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The Goldfields Esperance Business Register is coming to the end of its second year. The founding partners held a formal review of the project, opting to continue the initiative to the end of 2023. Next year will feature more active procurement planning, training and workshops in the region to support this.  

The Underground Mine Emergency Response Competition was held at the end of November to fantastic reviews. Generously hosted by FMR Investments at their Gordon Sirdar gold mine, teams from across the region were thrown into the deep end with an all-out scenario mirroring a real-life disaster. Congratulations to best overall team winner Norton Gold – Paddington Operations and all competing teams.  

 The Goldfields Regional Council met in early December to discuss the challenges currently facing our industry and possible collective solutions. Accommodation – or lack thereof – was a common feature as a barrier to project expansion and growth.   

 The regional council meeting was followed by the annual St Barbara Miners’ Memorial service. This sombre occasion provided an opportunity for local industry and the Goldfields community to come together to mourn the tragic loss of life at a local mine several weeks ago.  

The St Barbara Festival parade rounded out the week, where heavy machinery rolled down central Hannan Street – including an impressive haul truck with a Christmas angel atop. This annual community event brings together community groups, with dancing, music, many kilos of lollies thrown and a unique experience to hold in your memory.  

Contact: Danielle Foster, Goldfields Regional Officer
Email: d.foster@cmewa.com

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