Bill defers statutory position changes for coal mines

The Queensland Resources Council has welcomed a decision to defer the introduction of provisions requiring the direct employment of statutory position holders at the State's coal mines. QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the 12-month deferral would allow a tripartite working group to consider issues associated with implementation of the provisions and possible solutions for consideration by Resources Minister Scott Stewart. It came as Parliament passed the Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, which clarifies the status of some mining and petroleum leases as well as containing the amendments that defer statutory position legislation. The independent Commissioner for Resources Health and Safety has established a working group to work through matters raised by a number of medium-tier coal mining companies, regarding the implementation of these provisions. “The sector appreciates Minister Stewart’s willingness to listen to the concerns of the QRC and resources companies about the unintended consequences for employment arrangements and safety outcomes as a result of the changes,” Mr Macfarlane said. “The Minister has asked Commissioner for Resources Safety and Heath Kate Du Preez to chair a tripartite working group representing coal mine operators, coal mine workers and the coal mines inspectorate. “This group will provide input, consider the issues and propose possible solutions to problems associated with the implementation of the direct employment provisions, with an objective to deliver the best possible outcome. The report is due back in late-January 2022." Related: Mining lease mix-up sparks calls for greater transparency When introducing the Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 to Parliament in June, Mr Stewart said the Department of Resources had identified 86 mining leases for coal and 847 mining leases for other minerals that had administrative deficiencies in that the minister did not recommend the issuing of the lease and/or the instrument of lease was not issued to the holder. Mr Stewart said the legislation passed this week clarified those leases were valid, and always had been valid. “The legislation will provide certainty to stakeholders and ensure existing rights and interests are maintained,” he said. Parliament also approved amendments that allow petroleum production leases to continue in force until a decision is made on renewing them. “If a company has applied to renew a production lease before it expires, the lease remains valid while a decision is made on the renewal,” Mr Stewart said. Additionally, the Bill continues four authorities to prospect, and their production lease applications, in the Lake Eyre Basin. The Government has committed to consulting on how an appropriate balance of environmental and economic considerations can be achieved in the Basin. Under current legislation, these ATPs would expire on November 1, along with the production lease applications. "These amendments give government the time to make decisions without putting any additional onus on government to approve applications,” Mr Stewart said.

Bill defers statutory position changes for coal mines

Industry Queensland

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