The Chamber of Commerce (CCIWA) and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) support practical measures to improve workplace safety but punitive laws for employers in other jurisdictions have had no impact on eliminating onsite fatalities.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCI) Chief Executive Officer Chris Rodwell said any workplace fatality is one too many and the number of work-related deaths has declined nationally from 3 deaths per 1000 workers in 2007 to 1.5 deaths per 1000 in 2016.

“We share the State Government’s commitment to prevent workplace deaths, but industrialmanslaughter laws will not achieve this,” Mr Rodwell said. “Rather it will distract the Government from tackling the hard questions of why workplace fatalities occur and what practical steps can be taken to address this issue.”

“To date, there has been inadequate consultation with industry by the Government to fully understand the implications of their policy.”

“There are already adequate laws in place which deal with individuals who negligently or purposefully contribute to a person’s death and there isa greater risk that industrial manslaughter laws will have a negative impact on safety outcomes by fostering a culture of blame.

“We would rather employers and workers focussed on improving safety outcomes instead of defending themselves,” he said. Increasing the number of Worksafe inspectors is a good starting point in helping to improve workplace safety and we will continue to work collaboratively with the Government on practical measures that can make our workplaces safer.

“We call on the Opposition and members of the crossbench to oppose the Government’s proposal and take a more common-sense approach.”

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy Chief Executive Officer Paul Everingham said that safety is already the primary objective within the resources industry and the regulator has significant powers under existing WA safety and health legislation.

“We firmly believe that any wrongdoing which contributes to injury or death on a work site should be dealt with by the justice system and there are adequate laws in place to deal with individuals,” Mr Everingham said.

“In the case of serious noncompliance with existing work, health and safety standards there are options to prosecute those who are responsible, including the use of criminal code manslaughter provisions.

“Industry and government work well together to maintain and improve workplace safety and we welcome Premier Mark McGowan’s plan to bolster WorkSafe’s resources and presence at workplaces across our state.

“WorkSafe and Resources Safety inspectorshave an important role in both enforcing health and safety standards and educating workplaces on safe work practices,” he said.

The post Industrial Manslaughter laws not a solution for workplace safety appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

The Teacher in Industry Placements (TIPS) initiative aims to equip science teachers with relevant and current industry knowledge for them to take back to their classrooms and share with their students.

The program is initially being piloted with Karratha SHS (KSHS) and forms part of the Pilbara Collaboration, an initiative coordinated by The Chamber of Minerals & Energy of WA (CME) in partnership with the WA Government.

CME chief executive Paul Everingham said CITIC Pacific Mining (CPM), Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Woodside and Yara Pilbara would be the first of the Collaboration partners to host high school science teachers at their operations, with placements scheduled with each company out to the end of the year.

“This is a great opportunity for the resources sector to provide exposure to our operations, as well as effective and engaging teacher professional development,” he said.

“It is hoped that teachers can observe new technology, standards and practices, collect resources and data for use within their classroom; and potentially acquire new skills, and take this newfound knowledge back into their classrooms and schools.”

KSHS science teacher Belinda Jenkinson was the first Pilbara-based teacher to participate in the program, spending two days at CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron magnetite operation, 100km south of Karratha.

She worked with the company’s engineers at the project’s 51 gigalitre desalination plant at Cape Preston, which is large enough to supply drinking water to a major town, and critical for mining and processing operations at Sino Iron.

Belinda learnt about the plant’s reverse osmosis technology and filtration system, where salt and impurities are removed, and the various chemical processes involved.

CPM Head of Corporate Affairs Rob Newton said Belinda’s onsite stay would be followed up with a school visit by CITIC Pacific’s engineers, who would work directly with students.

“This program allows local educators to see how the scientific principles they teach in the classroom are being applied at Sino Iron, every minute of every day, right across this megaproject,” he said.

“For local schools, we’re essentially a giant scientific laboratory right on their doorstep. We’re excited to be helping science come alive for Pilbara students.”

Karratha Senior High School Acting Principal Ashley Eversden said the school was excited about the opportunities that the initiative offered staff and students. 

“Working alongside the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and local industry allows teachers to access industry placements, they take their experiences into the classroom and develop links with student learning and contemporary industry practices,” he said.

“The connections with industry and mentors in the workplace will lead to classroom visits and the development of further real-life learning for our students.”

Lessons learnt from both industry and Karratha SHS will be shared, with the aim of rolling out across other high schools in the region. If successful, the initiative could expand to other subject areas beyond science in 2020.

The Pilbara Collaboration was developed in response to the Premier’s request for industry and Government to work together to build on individual companies’ existing social and economic contribution to the Pilbara region. 

The first agreed priority area for collaboration has been employment, education and training.

The post Pilbara science teachers to swap school for mine sites appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

The announcement follows Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s commitment in June to identify and remove the regulations and bureaucratic processes that imposed the largest costs on key sectors of the economy and blocked investment.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA’s Chief Executive Paul Everingham said excessive and outdated regulation was hampering major projects from getting off the ground and therefore, affecting job creation and restricting the sector’s future expansion.

“In announcing the Productivity Commission review, the Federal Government admitted the resources sector was being held back by complex layers of State and Federal regulations and it has become harder than ever to get new resources projects off the ground,” he said.

“While a high standard of approvals is essential for environmental outcomes, the current inefficient and duplicative processes that our mining and oil and gas members have to navigate is holding the sector back rather than allowing it to grow and remain internationally competitive.

“I look forward to working with Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Ben Morton during the review period and contribute ideas on behalf of our members as to how the approvals process can be reformed in order to boost efficiency, productivity and job creation.”

The resources sector is Western Australia’s third biggest revenue stream, accounting for 23 per cent of State revenue in 2019-20. A survey conducted by CME this year, which sampled just 41 of our member operations in WA, revealed $14.8 billion was given to the State and Federal Government in 2017-18, out of a total $57.7 billion in direct economic contribution made by the sector.

The post Red tape commitment to lead to more jobs and investment in WA’s resources sector appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will today reveal a 12-month review examining how streamlining regulation can cut unnecessary red tape for resources projects.

The announcement follows Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s commitment in June to identify and remove the regulations and bureaucratic processes that imposed the largest costs on key sectors of the economy and blocked investment.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA’s Chief Executive Paul Everingham said excessive and outdated regulation was hampering major projects from getting off the ground and therefore, affecting job creation and restricting the sector’s future expansion.

“In announcing the Productivity Commission review, the Federal Government admitted the resources sector was being held back by complex layers of State and Federal regulations and it has become harder than ever to get new resources projects off the ground,” he said.

“While a high standard of approvals is essential for environmental outcomes, the current inefficient and duplicative processes that our mining and oil and gas members have to navigate is holding the sector back rather than allowing it to grow and remain internationally competitive.

“I look forward to working with Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Ben Morton during the review period and contribute ideas on behalf of our members as to how the approvals process can be reformed in order to boost efficiency, productivity and job creation.”

The resources sector is Western Australia’s third biggest revenue stream, accounting for 23 per cent of State revenue in 2019-20. A survey conducted by CME this year, which sampled just 41 of our member operations in WA, revealed $14.8 billion was given to the State and Federal Government in 2017-18, out of a total $57.7 billion in direct economic contribution made by the sector.

The post Red Tape Commitment to Lead to More Jobs and Investments in WA’s Resources Sector appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) Chief Executive Paul Everingham said BHP had reaffirmed its strong commitment to the State through its Pilbara Expansion Strategic Proposal, which outlines its long-term environmental framework for potential future Pilbara-based iron ore operations.

Mr Everingham said the Minister’s approval of the strategic proposal was expected to reduce subsequent approval timeframes for these assessed operations by up to 50 per cent.

“This proposal and resulting approval will be a game-changer in the Western Australian resources sector,” he said.

“Under BHP’s proposal, we are potentially looking at another 11 new iron ore projects in the Pilbara, which will significantly improve our economy and enhance local communities.

“Importantly, the aggregation of these projects through a strategic assessment allowed the Environmental Protection Authority to assess cumulative, long-term environmental impacts rather than assessing these projects one at a time over the next 50 to 100 years.

“BHP already has a rich history of more than 50 years in the Pilbara and I congratulate them for taking the bold step of committing to Western Australia for the next century.

“I also thank the State Government for its willingness to work with the resources sector to facilitate this strategic approach and in turn, secure the long term economic future of WA.

“CME has consistently called for the need to reduce unnecessary red tape and streamline approval processes to allow resources companies to create more jobs for Western Australians and boost investor confidence in this State.

“I am confident today’s announcement will reinforce the State’s position as a world-leader in resources and will support the industry’s efforts to create significant economic and social benefits for the Western Australian community for generations to come.”

The post BHP Proposal Set to Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs for WA appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

As per our submission to the reform process, CME supports the Department’s stated objectives for the proposals for the new Act. This includes repeal and replacement of the Act, which is outdated and more than 40 years old.

“CME and its members support a system that provides Aboriginal people a real and meaningful role in decisions affecting their heritage,” Mr Everingham said.

“We are only at Phase 2 of the consultation process and further detail needs to be provided as part of Phase 3, but we remain confident with the broad direction of the reforms.

“We remain a strong advocate for streamlined legislation governing land use in Western Australia, and support proposals that provide a clear framework within which transparent land use decisions can be made efficiently and effectively.

“As acknowledged by Indigenous Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt, CME and its members have been actively engaged in the reform process, and will continue to support the extensive consultation process outlined by Minister Wyatt.”

The post Statement from CME CEO Paul Everingham re: Review of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

CME CEO Paul Everingham said history has shown that countries with lower tax rates appeal to overseas investors and people.

“It’s all about Australia having a competitive economy. When we have a tax rate that means we can compete on a more equal footing with other countries, we’re more likely to attract investment and appeal to people who might consider living here,” said Mr Everingham.

“A good example of this is Ireland where they have a standard tax rate of 20 per cent and a higher rate of 40 per cent. Even closer to home, Singapore’s top tax rate is 22 per cent and both country’s economies have benefitted substantially as a result of this.”

The post Lower Tax Rate Increases Competitiveness appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

Today’s release of an economic impact assessment of the Burrup Hub development off the North West coast of Western Australia shows a staggering $52 billion will be spent in the State over four decades on the two projects, equivalent to building 33 Optus Stadiums.

The development will boost Australia’s GDP by $414 billion during 2019-2063, of which 99 per cent will be in WA, which is equivalent to 23 per cent of Australia’s GDP in 2017-18.

CME chief executive Paul Everingham said WA would receive the majority of the significant spend through employment, taxation and royalties and exports, providing a windfall for the State’s finances.

“This is great news for West Australian jobseekers, as the two projects will provide an average of 950 jobs per year, with a peak construction workforce of more than 4,600 jobs in 2023,” he said.

“In addition, more than $82 billion in taxation and royalties are estimated to be directly paid from the Burrup Hub, and another $44 billion indirectly, significantly boosting the State’s economy and in turn, helping to fund vital infrastructure such as hospitals and schools.”

Mr Everingham said residents and local businesses in the Pilbara and Kimberley region would particularly benefit from the local jobs and procurement opportunities that would be created as a result of the projects, worth about $1.3 billion to the two regions.

“More than 1,900 jobs will be located in Karratha and Broome over the life of the project. Businesses in Karratha will, on average, benefit from more than $86 million per year of direct localised spending required to operate the Burrup Hub, with $15 million of spend estimated annually for Broome logistics support activities,” he said.

“There is little doubt that the resources sector is doing the heavy lifting in securing the economic future of the nation, bringing immense financial, social and community benefits to the lives of all Australians.”

The post WA Gas Development to Provide Multi-Billion Dollar Boost to the Nation appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA’s Chief Executive Paul Everingham said given the sector was the State’s third biggest revenue stream, accounting for 23 per cent of State revenue in 2019-20, it made sense to cut excessive and outdated regulation that was hampering major projects from getting off the ground.

“The only way to create more jobs is to increase the levels of investment in our economy, but when there are significant and excessive roadblocks in the way, in the form of taxes and regulations, companies will simply do business elsewhere and that costs the WA economy significantly,” he said.

“By pledging to work with the resources sector by removing obstacles to business investment, the Government is facilitating the flow of billions of dollars in royalties into the economy, and eventually back into the community to build vital public infrastructure such as hospitals and schools.

“In fact, a survey conducted by CME this year which sampled just 41 of our member operations in WA revealed a staggering $14.8 billion was given to the State and Federal Government in 2017-18, out of a total $57.7 billion in direct economic contribution made by the sector.”

Mr Everingham said CME looked forward to working with Ben Morton, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, who has been tasked with developing an action plan to target barriers to investment in key industries and activities.

The post Reducing regulatory burden vital to WA’s resources sector appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

The analysis of this year’s budget papers by The Australian newspaper shows Western Australia is the only state managing to reduce its debt over the forward estimates.

CME Chief Executive Paul Everingham said the WA Government should also be applauded for its responsible budgetary measures, in contrast to Queensland, South Australia, and to a lesser extent, Victoria.

“CME has consistently called for Government to rein in expenditure growth in order to manage the State’s finances and reduce debt and we were pleased to see expense growth limited to just 1.3 per cent per year to 2022-23 in this year’s budget,” Mr Everingham said.

““While other governments are hiring more public servants at a time of slow economic growth, WA has bucked the trend and has cut spending in the public sector, a move which has contributed to decision to upgrade WA’s credit rating from AA2 to AA1 earlier this month.

“The Government’s strong fiscal resolve, combined with strong growth in exports for LNG, lithium and gold and increasing business investment on a wave of new resource sector projects in iron ore and lithium, paints a very positive picture for the economic future of WA.”

The analysis highlighted that surging iron ore and oil and gas prices had significantly assisted the WA Government in achieving its first return to budgetary surplus in five years.

The post WA leading the way on sound financial management appeared first on The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.