The Western Australian Government has announced the successful applicants for Round 21 of its Exploration Incentive Scheme’s (EIS) Co-funded Exploration Drilling Program.
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety received 61 applications, with 45 applicants offered co-funded drilling grants worth $5.23 million. The applicants’ 49 projects stretch from the Kimberley and Pilbara in the north, through to the Mid-West, Goldfields and the South-West regions.
Almost a third of the successful general category applicants are searching for battery minerals, including one vanadium project and two rare earth element projects. While seven successful prospectors are looking for gold, copper and base metals. The applicants will have 12 months to undertake the work – from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
The Co-funded Exploration Drilling Program provides incentives to drill in under explored areas.
For more information, visit https://www.dmp.wa.gov.au
Royalty rates for construction and industrial minerals fixed for five years
WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston last week announced that specific rate royalties applied to minerals used by Western Australia’s building and construction sector will remain at their current levels and not increase for the next five-years commencing July 1, 2020.
The actions provide further support to companies during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The unchanged rate royalties are Amount A (73 cents) and Amount B (117 cents).
Amount A includes aggregate, clays, dolomite, gravel, gypsum, construction use limestone, rock, (common) salt and sand; while Amount B includes: building stone, chemical use limestone, metallurgical use silica and talc.
Urgent review of skills, training and workforce development announced
The WA Government has established an urgent review of skills, training and workforce development in response to COVID-19.
The review team will engage with industry and business to identify training needs and develop specific proposals that respond to these needs, aiming to identify practical and responsive training solutions for the post-COVID-19 recovery period. The team will be led by Ms Anne Driscoll, Director General of the Department of Training and Workforce Development; Ms Michelle Hoad, Managing Director, North Metropolitan TAFE and Ms Terry Durant, Managing Director, South Metropolitan TAFE.
A report will be provided on key opportunities, practical actions and proposed TAFE implementation responses to the State Recovery Controller by June 30, 2020.
Country Liberal Government will simplify mining taxes to drive investment and jobs in the Territory
Leading into the Northern Territory’s 22 August state election, the Country Liberal Party Government has pledged to remove the current Government’s “complicated” hybrid mining tax model and implement an ad valorem royalty system to drive investment and job creation in the Territory.
The new system will make it easier for existing mining operations and prospective businesses to forecast royalty expenses, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said last week, and includes:
- Remove the hybrid mining tax model introduced by the Gunner Government in 2018, which has been a disaster for the Territory and has discouraged investment, cost us jobs and contributed to the worsening economic crisis we are facing.
- Institute an ad valorem only royalty system for all new mining operations in the Territory, based on the Western Australian regime.
- Phase in the ad valorem royalty system for existing mines, in consultation with industry.
