Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Sustainable Budget Commission SUSTAINABLE BUDGET COMMISSION The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS Legislative Council SUSTAINABLE BUDGET COMMISSION The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (16:39): When did the minister become aware that the Treasurer had referred mining royalties to the Sustainable Budget Commission? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Mineral Resources Development Minister for Urban Development and Planning Minister for Industrial Relations Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management SUSTAINABLE BUDGET COMMISSION The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (16:39): When the honourable member says 'referred', we all know that the Sustainable Budget Commission is looking at savings at present. I am not exactly sure what role the Sustainable Budget Commission is taking, but what I can say is that, as the minister responsible for mining royalties, the Department of Primary Industry and Resources works very closely with Treasury. We have had a number of meetings in relation to ensuring that we do get the return that we should from our resources and to ensure that the royalties are applied appropriately. We work closely with the Treasury in relation to that but, ultimately, any decision on royalties is the role of this parliament: parliament sets royalties through the Mining Act. I announced the introduction of a mining act amendment bill today, and that bill does not propose to adjust mining royalties. Of course, there are three exceptions (and I have mentioned two of those already): OneSteel, under the indenture; Olympic Dam; and the Leigh Creek coalmine and, because it has a specific function, I think its royalties are also covered by a separate indenture. Again, they are acts of parliament, so any change to royalties would have to come through this parliament.