Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the terms of reference for the inquiry of the Environment and Communications References Committee into the rehabilitation of mining and resources projects, agreed to on 8 February 2017, be amended to read as follows:

The rehabilitation of mining and resources projects and power station ash dams 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 and power station ash dams 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;

(ea) the effectiveness of existing and past power station ash dams with regard to repairing environmental damage and safeguarding human health;

(f) whether any mining, resources or electricity generation 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, resources and electricity generation sectors;

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

(j) proposals for reform of rehabilitation of mining and resources projects and power station ash dams; 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.

Scott Ryan (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 abandoned mines and for ensuring that mining companies comply with their rehabilitation obligations rests primarily with state and territory governments. The only exception is uranium mines in the Northern Territory, which are the responsibility of the Australian government. All state and territory governments have systems in place to ensure miners fulfil their rehabilitation requirements before relinquishing mining leases through a system of bonds or bank guarantees, or a pooled fund, or a combination of the two. The current inquiry provides certainty for all stakeholders. The extended reference to include industrial waste would involve different stakeholders to those who provided submissions to the current inquiry and puts at risk the current reporting date, which has already been extended three times.

Rex Patrick (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Rex Patrick (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the committee for supporting my request to change the terms of reference of this inquiry. I hold serious concerns about the failed ash dam remediation at the abandoned Port Augusta power stations and the health problems for local residents that flow from that. However, I recognise that this is also a national problem that requires a national solution to ensure proper rehabilitation of all power station sites across Australia. A clean-as-you-go approach may be necessary. I urge support for this motion and look forward to the committee examining this issue, which is of critical importance to my constituents in Port Augusta.

Question agreed to.