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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-29 Daily Xml
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MINERAL EXPLORATION, INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources Development. This will be a good one. Minister, will you outline the benefits for South Australia's—

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: As opposed to the last one!

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: I know you are not interested in the questions we ask. Minister, will you outline the benefits for South Australia's indigenous communities as a result of the record level of investment in this state's minerals and energy sector?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:10): This is a very timely question because it will give me the opportunity to highlight what this government is doing for indigenous communities that are located in the remote areas of this state. South Australia's indigenous communities, along with regional and remote parts of the state, are one of the many beneficiaries of the renewed interest in mineral resources development.

Five years ago this government embarked on the Plan for Accelerating Exploration (PACE) program. One of the key outcomes sought through the PACE initiative was the emergence of sustainable and vibrant indigenous communities engaged in economic development in and around the mining sector.

This government is pleased with the progress made towards this outcome. While the internationally renowned PACE initiative has significantly boosted mineral exploration activity in this state, it has also provided opportunities for indigenous communities to become engaged in economic development in and around the mining sector.

The South Australian government through PIRSA has established positive working relationships with indigenous communities across the state. Currently, there are 17 approved exploration licences in the APY lands, represented by five mineral exploration companies; six exploration licence applications with ministerial approval for negotiation with the APY; 12 exploration licence applications under review by PIRSA; and six petroleum exploration licence applications with ministerial approval for negotiation with the APY.

As exploration activity increases across the APY lands, employment opportunities will continue to flow through these communities. The South Australian government will continue to work with the APY communities and industry to identify these opportunities and to develop appropriate projects to boost exploration and future mining in the highly prospective North West of the state.

While the APY lands have been the primary focus under the PACE initiative, the South Australian government supports other statewide education programs. These programs are designed to provide skills training in geoscience and exploration to ensure that Aboriginal people are well placed to participate in future mining ventures.

The Resources Engineering Skills Alliance (RESA) was first established as the mineral resources and heavy engineering skills centre in 2006, with $8.3 million in government funding over four years. The specific objective of RESA was through collaborative arrangements with companies and organisations in order to deliver innovative solutions to address the anticipated skills shortages of South Australia's expanding mining industry.

One of RESA's strategic priorities is to promote indigenous employment programs, particularly in South Australian regional areas. The ongoing progress towards developing new mines in South Australia points to increased employment. BHP Billiton is an active supporter of a range of indigenous community projects, and at Olympic Dam the company has established and participates in a number of programs providing indigenous employment, training and education funding.

The indigenous participation program offers apprenticeships and traineeships. In 2008, the number of apprentices and trainees at Olympic Dam totalled 96, with 56 graduates. OZ Minerals' Prominent Hill copper and gold mine operates with a focus on creating opportunities for increased indigenous employment. Currently, the mine employs 580 workers, 25 per cent of whom are from Coober Pedy and towns and centres in Upper Spencer Gulf, with a further 49 per cent from within South Australia.

In addition, Heathgate Resources has set and achieved a target of providing 20 per cent indigenous employment within its Beverley workforce. Heathgate has also actively encouraged the development of indigenous businesses in the Beverley area and built a 5 per cent advantage into quotations by indigenous businesses for the supply of goods and services to the mine.

On the West Coast, Iluka Resources' Jacinth-Ambrosia Heavy Minerals Sands mine is providing employment and business opportunities for the region's indigenous communities. Indigenous workers currently employed at Jacinth-Ambrosia represent 20 per cent of the workforce, and one in three workers are from the Ceduna area. Again, this shows how this mining expansion is contributing to local communities, and indigenous communities especially.

However, it is not only in the mineral sector where indigenous employment opportunities exist. Officer Basin Energy's search for petroleum in the Officer Basin has provided the Maralinga Tjarutja communities in the west of the state with substantial business opportunities. In 2007, Maralinga Tjarutja was successful in securing contracts for seismic line preparation on the first phase of OBE's exploration program, which provided a 1,250 kilometre seismic survey over mostly new but temporary access tracks. The contract was a major business success for Maralinga Tjarutja, providing a track record for future work as well as a major employment and training opportunity for many people from the local MT community.

Maralinga Tjarutja will also have further business opportunities during OBE's subsequent target, definition and drilling phase. Further employment for Maralinga Tjarutja has been possible through the OBE-MT native title negotiations in which OBE employed an MT cultural heritage team to complete work clearance areas, a skill that can now be employed in future business ventures.

With the appropriate training and skills opportunities for indigenous people, communities right across the state will be able to share in the economic benefits these mineral resource and energy projects will bring to South Australia. So, let us support the mining expansion and jobs for indigenous people. Let us not have the sort of knocking we have had from members opposite who will oppose anything that is in their backyard.

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