Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Waters, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 23 August 2017:

The rehabilitation of mining and resources projects as it relates to Commonwealth responsibilities, for example under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), with regard to:

(a) the cost of outstanding rehabilitation obligations of currently operating projects;

(b) the adequacy of existing regulatory, policy and institutional arrangements to ensure adequate and timely rehabilitation;

(c) the adequacy and transparency of financial mechanisms, including assurances, bonds and funds, to ensure that mining and resources projects are rehabilitated without placing a burden on public finances;

(d) the effectiveness of current Australian rehabilitation practices in safeguarding human health and repairing and avoiding environmental damage;

(e) the effectiveness of existing abandoned mines programs, with regard to repairing environmental damage and safeguarding human health;

(f) whether any mining or resources companies have engaged in conduct designed to avoid fulfilling their rehabilitation obligations;

(g) the potential social, economic and environmental impacts, including on matters of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act, of inadequate rehabilitation;

(h) the potential social, economic and environmental benefits of adequate rehabilitation, including job opportunities in communities affected by job losses in the mining and resources sectors;

  (i) international examples of effective rehabilitation policy and practice;

(j) proposals for reform of rehabilitation of mining and resources projects; and

(k) any other related matters.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Responsibility for ensuring that miners comply with their rehabilitation obligations rests primarily with state and territory governments, and not with the Commonwealth. The COAG Energy Council Land Access for Resources Working Group is currently reviewing best practice approaches to mine rehabilitation as well as the management of legacy abandoned mines. The proposed inquiry would duplicate much of this work.

Question agreed to.