Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-06 Daily Xml

Contents

Question Time

MINING SUPER TAX

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (16:21): As a supplementary question, minister, what representations have you made and how proactive have you been on this issue to protect Aboriginal communities?

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) (16:21): I have spent much of my time in the last eight years in trying to improve the opportunities for mining within Aboriginal communities and to ensure that, where we have existing mines, they have the maximum take-up of Indigenous employees within those—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: This government has established cabinet subcommittees, of which I am a member, which have worked assiduously on improving Aboriginal opportunities in relation to the mining industry.

The federal government announced a tax last Sunday. This government is analysing that, and we have been talking to industry to try and get a holding in relation to that. We are well aware that it might have downstream effects, including on the Indigenous community, but what we need to do first is to ensure that we have the accurate information in relation to that assessment. We are doing that. We are talking mining companies. I have regular meetings with the APY, for example, in relation to this matter. We have been dealing with issues such as access to their lands and royalties. I have a meeting with the APY executive at least every two or three months and will continue to do that. At this stage, we need to get the information as to what this new measure means.