Mr ELFERINK - 1998-02-18
I understand the processing of mining titles is still at a standstill as a result of native title. How many applications have been affected and what impact is this having on the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
I can indeed confirm that the processing of mining titles in respect of land possibly affected by the Wik decision is at a standstill. Members should take heed of what I am saying today. This land includes pastoral leases and a number of other non-exclusive leases. In fact, no exploration licences or mining tenures have been issued on a pastoral lease in the Northern Territory since 23 December 1996. That is the date that the High Court delivered the Wik decision. By the end of last month, there were 560 applications outstanding for mining titles. These are as follows: exploration licences - 206; exploration retention licences - 13; mineral claims - 299; mineral leases - 21; extractive mineral leases 11; and authorities explorations - 10. In addition to these applications, the renewal of mining titles granted after 1 January 1994, the date on which the Native Title Act came into force, is also affected by native title. As at the end of last month, there were 17 applications for renewal of exploration licences and 87 applications for renewal of mineral claims affected. Renewals of mining titles granted prior to the commencement of the Native Title Act on 1 January 1994 are being processed and granted normally.
Obviously, these delays are having a major impact on the mining industry, in particular on exploration in the Northern Territory, and on the Northern Territory economy and the number of people who are employed ...
Mr Bailey: You know the detail on this, but not on the Power and Water Authority.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Wanguri, I am giving you a warning.
Mr POOLE: One can only speculate about the number of possible applications that explorers choose not to lodge or pursue. The mining industry obviously is highly dependent on an active exploration program to discover new deposits and to extend the life of existing resources. Delays like those currently being experienced, together with the very substantial delays that have been occurring over the last 20 years on Aboriginal land, will not contribute to a healthy future for our mining industry.
The area of land affected by the Wik decision in the Northern Territory constitutes approximately 48% of the whole Territory. Constraining access by explorers to this huge area of land undoubtedly will have a long-term impact on the capacity to identify resources so as to maintain the economic and employment benefits of the mining industry to the Territory. More than 40% of Australian mining company exploration expenditure is now being spent overseas. What a tragedy for Australia and the Northern Territory!
Mr Bailey: It has nothing to do with native title.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri.
Mr POOLE: Trying to get people to explore in the Northern Territory in competition with other regions of Australia has always been highly difficult. Because of these constraints, it is now becoming more and more impossible. One of the Territory’s longest-serving and highest-spending explorers is at this moment considering folding up its Territory operations because of its inability to gain access to land.
Mr Ah Kit: Who is that?
Mr POOLE: If you don’t know, Jack, you are not doing your job.
Passage of the Howard government’s 10-point plan is urgently needed. It is vital to the clearing of the jam of mining title applications for Australia and the Territory. In the meantime, this government will continue its programs to accelerate the provision of geological and geophysical data to attract explorers. However, our efforts are frustrated by poor land access and the resultant inability to grant titles.
ANSWER
I can indeed confirm that the processing of mining titles in respect of land possibly affected by the Wik decision is at a standstill. Members should take heed of what I am saying today. This land includes pastoral leases and a number of other non-exclusive leases. In fact, no exploration licences or mining tenures have been issued on a pastoral lease in the Northern Territory since 23 December 1996. That is the date that the High Court delivered the Wik decision. By the end of last month, there were 560 applications outstanding for mining titles. These are as follows: exploration licences - 206; exploration retention licences - 13; mineral claims - 299; mineral leases - 21; extractive mineral leases 11; and authorities explorations - 10. In addition to these applications, the renewal of mining titles granted after 1 January 1994, the date on which the Native Title Act came into force, is also affected by native title. As at the end of last month, there were 17 applications for renewal of exploration licences and 87 applications for renewal of mineral claims affected. Renewals of mining titles granted prior to the commencement of the Native Title Act on 1 January 1994 are being processed and granted normally.
Obviously, these delays are having a major impact on the mining industry, in particular on exploration in the Northern Territory, and on the Northern Territory economy and the number of people who are employed ...
Mr Bailey: You know the detail on this, but not on the Power and Water Authority.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Wanguri, I am giving you a warning.
Mr POOLE: One can only speculate about the number of possible applications that explorers choose not to lodge or pursue. The mining industry obviously is highly dependent on an active exploration program to discover new deposits and to extend the life of existing resources. Delays like those currently being experienced, together with the very substantial delays that have been occurring over the last 20 years on Aboriginal land, will not contribute to a healthy future for our mining industry.
The area of land affected by the Wik decision in the Northern Territory constitutes approximately 48% of the whole Territory. Constraining access by explorers to this huge area of land undoubtedly will have a long-term impact on the capacity to identify resources so as to maintain the economic and employment benefits of the mining industry to the Territory. More than 40% of Australian mining company exploration expenditure is now being spent overseas. What a tragedy for Australia and the Northern Territory!
Mr Bailey: It has nothing to do with native title.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri.
Mr POOLE: Trying to get people to explore in the Northern Territory in competition with other regions of Australia has always been highly difficult. Because of these constraints, it is now becoming more and more impossible. One of the Territory’s longest-serving and highest-spending explorers is at this moment considering folding up its Territory operations because of its inability to gain access to land.
Mr Ah Kit: Who is that?
Mr POOLE: If you don’t know, Jack, you are not doing your job.
Passage of the Howard government’s 10-point plan is urgently needed. It is vital to the clearing of the jam of mining title applications for Australia and the Territory. In the meantime, this government will continue its programs to accelerate the provision of geological and geophysical data to attract explorers. However, our efforts are frustrated by poor land access and the resultant inability to grant titles.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016