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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-10-18 Daily Xml
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APY LANDS, MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Mineral Resources Development a question about mineral and petroleum exploration on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: The state is currently undergoing a mineral resources boom, and an area that has been identified as prospective falls within the APY lands. Will the minister advise what the state government is doing to facilitate responsible mineral and petroleum exploration on the APY lands?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:42): What a contrast to move away from internal games—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: They're going on with it; they are obsessive. You love it, don't you! It is all a game. We can see here what is happening. These people just exist to play games. However, we have here a substantial question about something of real importance to the state, an issue that will affect this state for years to come; something that will affect the economy of this state, not whether or not the Hon. Mr Xenophon's replacement has been appointed.

I am pleased to report that there has been an impressive increase in the number of land access approvals for both mineral and petroleum exploration licences in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands during the past six months. There are now 13 active mineral exploration licences in the APY lands, which is more than a four-fold increase compared with just three active mineral exploration licences in early 2007; and six petroleum exploration licence applications in the APY lands, which is a 50 per cent increase, compared to just four in early 2007. The applicants are near to finalising the finance for a key reflection seismic survey as well as deep drilling in these petroleum exploration licence areas. In fact, in the past two months, in August and September, more approvals for mineral exploration in the APY have occurred than at any time since the launch of the government's Plan for Accelerating Exploration (PACE) initiative 3½ years ago.

To ensure that South Australia and all parties involved gain the full benefit of the government's PACE initiative, Primary Industries and Resources is implementing a strategic planning process, working with APY communities and industry to identify opportunities and develop appropriate projects to boost exploration and future mining in the APY lands. In particular, the PACE initiative has helped APY communities to establish ongoing working relationships which enable them to process exploration licence applications and negotiate with traditional owners over access to their lands. The encouraging progress seen in the past few months can be largely attributed to the greater confidence of APY communities in the process. This achievement is the result of greater understanding of mineral exploration codes of practice and the government's stringent regulation of exploration processes within the APY lands. This strengthening in confidence in turn has generated a healthy increase in approvals in the APY lands and, just as importantly, an improved relationship between the APY communities and the resources sector.

This burgeoning relationship has led to support for APY in developing anthropological and legal expertise; support for APY in appointing exploration liaison staff; a development of understanding of PIRSA's geological mapping practices and objections; APY community education and skills training in geosciences and exploration; development of standard exploration approvals processes and deeds between APY, PIRSA and industry; and community engagement activities by PIRSA and industry. All of these encouraging developments have been aided by the exemplary attitude and work practices of the new entrant exploration companies.

There are numerous examples of companies actively seeking to support and integrate with APY communities. Recently, PepinNini Minerals sponsored the Amata Sports Carnival that ran from 28 September to 2 October. Joint venture partners Independence Group NL and Goldsearch Ltd have contributed $2,000 to APY land management to enable its staff and Anangu rangers to attend a Caring for Country conference in North Queensland earlier this month. It is worth noting that both of these sponsorships were initiated without any influence from PIRSA. We also expect that the petroleum licence holders will, similarly, want to support programs that benefit the people of the APY lands. This combination of factors, fostered by PACE and assisted by the South Australian government through PIRSA, has empowered the traditional owners and APY administration and given them greater assurance about their capacity to manage access for mineral exploration within their own lands.

I am pleased to inform the council that the increased activity on these tenements is anticipated to eventually make a major contribution to the financial stability of APY communities, as exploration possibly leads to new mining ventures within the APY lands, and this will benefit South Australians. The potential opportunities and benefits for the APY and the state through the company activities on these tenements are many and varied, ranging from gaining significant improvements in community welfare, education, employment, business opportunities and infrastructure for the local communities, to wider benefits flowing to the state as a whole. All in all, it is great news for South Australia. As I said, these are the concerns of the government rather than the internal undergraduate-type activities of members opposite.

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