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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-10-20 Daily Xml
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ADELAIDE HILLS MINING

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (12:40): It is with pleasure and pride that I move:

That this House congratulates the Australian Mining History Association for celebrating 170 years of Adelaide Hills mining and its contribution to the economy of South Australia.

Members will be aware that this year we also celebrate 175 years of our state. I think it is fair to say that mining has been not only a major part of the history and wealth of South Australia but also necessary for the salvation of our economic state, which is something we should celebrate. The association recently celebrated by having their annual general meeting at the history association's annual conference. It was the first that I learned that the very first mine in South Australia was at Glen Osmond, which of course is in the seat of Bragg.

I have a renewed passion for mining, I might say, not because of the grandiose statements of the Premier but because I recently found out that my great great great grandfather on my mother's side worked first in Brazil and then in 1862 migrated originally from Cornwell to Western Australia to work in the Geraldton mine. In fact, he had the first lease for the Miners' Arms Hotel, etc., but that is another story. It is a very proud history and I am pleased to have become acquainted with it.

However, on this important occasion, I would like the house to acknowledge and congratulate the association for highlighting to us the extraordinary history of mining and its role in the salvation of our state—being plucked really from potential bankruptcy—in the early part of the South Australian colony. The first era from 1841 to 1851 showed extraordinary development, starting at Glen Osmond, with larger mines developing at Kapunda and Burra. Others will be aware just in the Adelaide Hills zone of the development of mines that established mining for silver and lead, for pyrite, and also for silver, lead and zinc.

Many would also be aware, just from what we learnt at school, that in the 1950s and 1960s the major mines in South Australia and the great era of mining just in that time—if you look at old South Australian maps with the legend on the side—were Iron Knob, Broken Hill, Radium Hill, Leigh Creek and Coober Pedy. They were very important for the economy of this state. Before our current Premier even came to live in South Australia, there was the magnificent deposit discovered at Olympic Dam Station.

Had the Australian Labor Party not backflipped on their original support of the development of that mine in the late 1970s, it could have developed earlier. They had to wait until the Tonkin government came into office to develop it, and then of course established the indenture for the development of the Roxby Downs township to support that. It is a magnificent legacy to the Tonkin government, and I say a special thanks to Norm Foster, who ultimately crossed the floor. In fact, the bill failed on the initial reading in the house, but it was re-submitted when Norm Foster announced that he would support the passage of that bill.

Before the Premier even came to South Australia, this was the magnificent deposit that we will consider in this parliament as to whether we allow BHP, the current owners of that site, to peel back the dirt and develop it into an open cut mine. That is for a debate on another day. However, I want to remind members that, before he even came to South Australia, that deposit was discovered. You would never believe it because, if one were to read the big glossy Digging Deep booklet that was produced at a cost of nearly $20,000 of Social Inclusion Unit money—can you believe it?—featuring the Premier and Monsignor Cappo and all of the things they have done for mining, you would think that South Australia was not discovered until he got here. You would think that the settlement of the colony of South Australia began in the mid-1970s. Nothing could be further from the truth when one considers mining.

So, on this historic day when we say goodbye to Rambo and his sidekick, let me say this: he needs to have a very clear understanding that this state was thriving before he got here and it will be thriving even after he goes. They need to understand the importance of mining in this state and the significant role that it has played in our economy.

Recently I visited the core library. Many of you may not be aware that the Department for Primary Industries has operated a core library at Glenside. Hugh Hudson actually opened it in the late 1970s, I think. It is a significant repository of mineral samples which are kept and are available for the public, and other members of the industry who are interested, to inspect and, in fact, take samples (with permission) to have tested and the like.

I wish to place on record my appreciation to the Department of Primary Industries for also introducing to me the new SARIG, the new data processing website tool, which provides the collection, dissemination and display of geoscientific information. It is an extraordinarily interesting and, I think, leading technology. In fact, I read in other material that the great Fraser Institute, which has often been quoted by the Premier, has recognised it. I am very disappointed that, in all the years that the Premier has been here, I cannot recall any occasion on which he has recognised the significance of this program.

However, in the last few years, it has been developed. It is available and it is extraordinarily interesting for those who are interested in geology in South Australia and also for those who wish to explore the current and historical mining data for this state. It gives us a very good lesson as to what the picture is today. It is extremely interesting. So I urge all members to take the opportunity to go to www.sarig.pir.sa.gov.au and actually look at the website. It is a very educative tool, and I am very pleased to say that that is available. I am disappointed that the Premier has never mentioned it, but it is well worthy of that attraction.

It is not necessary for us to rewrite history. For decades previous administrations have recognised the importance of this for South Australia. In recent decades, under the PACE scheme (which is a plan for exploration established under the Brown and Olsen government which has been, I am pleased to say, maintained by this government) mining and exploration is there. What is not acceptable is governments that do not manage the exploration programs appropriately. If, for example, the government decides that there is a piece of South Australia that should be retained as a sanctuary, and it is important to do so—as the Premier recently did in the Arkaroola site in the northern Flinders Ranges—then that is a decision, worthy as it may be, that must be done in a manner which does not cause major expense to taxpayers.

What is important to remember here is that the Arkaroola decision is actually going to cost taxpayers probably about $10 million in an ex gratia compensation payment that will ultimately be paid to the company that undertook that exploration.

I am not criticising the decision, I simply make the point that it is the responsibility of governments, if they are going to properly manage the exploration of sites and equitably exploit the resources for future generations of South Australians, that they do it in a manner that does not cause unnecessary expense to the taxpayers of South Australia and that they do it in a sensible way. We do not need any more pamphlets. I am pleased that the minister is present during the course of this debate. We do not need any pamphlets called 'Digging Deep' or digging anything else, unless we are going to dig a grave for the exit of the Premier. We do not need any more pamphlets to remind us of all of the great things that the Premier and his regime, with Monsignor Cappo, have done for the people of South Australia and mining, because he is just a blip in history.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mrs Geraghty.

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