Rex Minerals

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Mining. Has Rex Minerals or its new owner reached agreement on a cultural heritage management plan with Narungga Nation?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:51): The member for Narungga is keenly watching what's going on with Rex Minerals. I note he is very keen to make sure the full regulatory force that the government has is applied fairly. I don't want to put words into his mouth, but the member for Narungga has been a champion of farming families on the Yorke Peninsula and has had some concerns about mining on Yorke Peninsula. I am assuming he wants to make sure that the government is making mining companies aware of their obligations under law.

I am advised that, under the current mining authorisation, Rex Minerals is required to meet all its statutory requirements. While the Hillside Project is being developed on freehold land, it remains subject to the requirements of the Aboriginal Heritage Act, and this is the case for all developments. Rex Minerals is aware of that obligation, and I understand they are continuing their engagement with heritage holders at their mine site. This includes working towards a benefit-sharing arrangement with heritage holders.

The government does not insert itself in that process. We create an obligation on the company to obtain a heritage agreement, and then we leave it to them and the heritage holder groups to negotiate that. The Hillside Project, in my opinion, is vital for the state and vital for Rex Minerals, as it represents to the company and to South Australia a deposit becoming a mid-tier copper producer here in Australia, which is good news for the state. It will create jobs and diversity of employment on the Yorke Peninsula.

I understand that Rex has maintained an active engagement program with its local community, government and other stakeholders in this project. The moment that heritage agreement is in place, I will inform the house, but I again let the member know that this is not something the government inserts itself into, other than making it a requirement that Rex do this even though they are mining on freehold land. To reassure the member, if one is not in place yet, one will need to be in place and, if it's not in place, they have not fulfilled their statutory obligations that are required.

These negotiations can be difficult, but they are there for a reason. I am confident that the company and the heritage holders can come to an agreement about a path forward. I will keep the house informed and the member informed and I also offer the member a briefing from the department on this matter, if he would like, to make sure that he's fully informed and can inform his community, as the local MP that he is, that he can go out and keep them informed about what's going on.