Commission of Inquiry (Land Access in the Mining and Petroleum Industries) Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 25 March 2020.)

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (11:24): I have spoken about this in my second reading contribution. It is very important. The issue is that when the mining bill went through the parliament last year, the minister at the time took a lot of consultation out there but, as I understand it, he never got back into the regions. One of our concerns at that particular point was that when he closed his debate he said that after the bill went through both houses of this parliament (and it did) four Liberal or government backbenchers went across and voted with the Independents on the original bill.

This does not investigate the bill itself. This is a bill to understand whether we have the best process in place for access onto agricultural land by both the resources and petroleum industries. We in this house make the legislation, and we do a lot of that on the advice of advisers. That does not mean to say we get everything right the first time. My argument is that we have the opportunity to look at all avenues and to reassess the processes. As a state and as a government, we then have the opportunity to look at processes by way of discussions to support access onto agricultural land by resource companies and mining opportunities.

We as legislators think we get everything right the first time, but we do not always get it right the first time. We always need to go back. I look at opportunities in my own life. What I do today I analyse tomorrow and the next day and try to do something different. Every day we do something in our lives. We look at what we did yesterday and then ask ourselves: did we do it the right way or can we improve ourselves? We analyse that today.

I am asking the government to look at what we as a state and what other jurisdictions do in relation to accessibility for stakeholders and farmers who are really involved in this. Some of these agricultural properties have been in the family for many generations. Quite often, when the big companies come in—and let me say that a lot of the companies are doing everything right—there are always opportunities for smaller companies to do something that is frustrating and not right for those communities. I ask that we look at other avenues. Look at how they do it interstate and internationally, in particular.

I had the opportunity to travel overseas a couple of years ago under the previous government. I looked at how the petroleum industry liaises with the fishing industry off the Scottish coastline. They looked at all their opportunities and they had a great facility to get the best results, not only for the petroleum industry but also for the fishing industry. In fact, at that particular time they were both working together.

In our system here, quite often the Department for Energy and Mining appears to be the promoter and also the regulator. Is this the best way to go about it? Can we do it better? Can we have a bit more transparency? I know that the government is always promoting transparency and always promoting opportunities out there, and to make certain we listen to everybody. As a parliament, as a government, as a state, we have been given the due diligence and the opportunity for small people out there—the farmers—to have a true process going through.

SACOME and Primary Producers SA are both looking for an independent review. This review is asking for somebody away from politics to do the review and for that opportunity to be kept well and truly away from the political avenues. All I am asking for is to have an independent inquiry into access by the mining and petroleum industries onto agricultural land. It is simple. It is not political. It is looking at the best opportunities. If this independent inquiry comes back after we look at all those opportunities and avenues, and we do it in the correct way, then everybody is—

Mr BROWN: Point of order, Mr Speaker: I draw your attention to the time and ask if it is appropriate that the member for Frome seeks leave to continue his remarks, given that it is now 11.30 by my reading of the clock.

The SPEAKER: It is 11.30. There is a little bit of time there. Would the member for Frome like to seek leave to continue his remarks?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I seek leave to continue my remarks, please, Mr Speaker.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.