CU-River Mining Australia

In reply to the Hon. F. PANGALLO (2 May 2019).

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I have been advised:

1. Appropriate environmental and financial controls are in place for the mining and exploration tenements held by CU-River Mining to ensure its performance meets the same high standards expected of every company by the South Australian public.

Any proposal for development of a port or a mine that the state government might receive in the future will be subject to the same rigorous assessment, the same laws and same financial requirements as any other mining or port company operating in South Australia.

2. The state government currently holds an $800,000 rehabilitation liability bond for CU-River's Cairn Hill mine in accordance with the approved operating plan under the Mining Act 1971.

The EPA has set a condition on the EPA licence for the Port Augusta site requiring that a $2.4 million financial assurance in the form of a bank guarantee be maintained, to ensure that all environmental obligations associated with remediation of the site are met.

3. As stated above, CU-River has provided a rehabilitation liability bond for its Cairn Hill mine. A financial assurance in the form of a bank guarantee has been set on the EPA licence for the Port Augusta site under section 51 of the Environment Protection Act 1993.

4. The state government has not received an application to develop a port at Port Augusta nor any new associated mines.

CU-River Mining Australia and JMA have publicly committed to employing South Australian workers in their operations, and CU-River Mining has recently announced plans to resume production at Cairn Hill, to employ about 80 people.

Further, the companies have said publicly they are working closely with the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara on building skills and business opportunities for the local traditional owners.

The commonwealth has established laws regarding employment of foreign workers and their visa requirements under which companies operating in Australia are required to comply.

5. The Premier and Treasurer are confident that both the commonwealth and state governments will apply the appropriate environmental and employment laws to any mining company operating in South Australia.

6. I am not aware of any specific role played by the former senator in lobbying or advocating for the development of the Port Augusta power station site by CU-River Mining.