On the 27 November 2024 the Mining Amendment Bill 2024 (MAB 2024) was introduced into Parliament, following approval earlier this year to draft amendments needed, to support security of tenure for Western Australia's mining sector.
The Bill proposes changes to the Mining Act 1978 (Mining Act) to update tenement application requirements, modernise the application process to facilitate online applications, as well as other minor changes to improve the efficiency of resource tenure processes.
Some key amending provisions include:
- Removing contemporaneity requirements for supporting documents (such as mineralisation reports for mining lease applications) to accompany applications;
- Clarifying requirements for supporting statements for exploration licences and mining leases;
- Updating the assessment requirements for mineralisation reports;
- Expanding the definition of 'mining tenement document' to facilitate electronic lodgements;
- Creating a power to make regulations that prescribe ways of complying with requirements for a fee or other consideration to accompany an application;
- Strengthening the security of title and the integrity of the register of mining title through an amendment to s 116(2); and
- Validating pending applications that may not have complied with prescribed requirements.
The update to application processes and requirements will protect the security of tenure for prospective applications following the High Court decision Forrest & Forrest v Wilson [2017] HCA 30.
For the full list of amendments, see Parliament's website:
