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SKILLS

Quail hatches

as WA Mining Club president

Expect to see more panel discussions at this year’s WA Mining Club events

stablished in 1972 as a network- Quail, a mining lawyer of 25 years and “Overall, no, I don’t think mining has
Eing club for out of work geologists a long-time Club committee member, an image problem, but there are always
and mining types looking to help each has a deep understanding of the industry things that you can do better,” Canavan
other out, the WA Mining Club has since and the next generation that will ultimate- said last month when speaking to Pay-
evolved, but the essence of the organisa- ly drive operations forward in the future. dirt.
tion remains the same. “Having met and interviewed a lot of “It is a bit hard for me to summarise
“That’s what we’re still trying to do; kids applying for the Club’s scholarship views of all Australians, but overall Aus-
help each other out in the industry,” WA programme [worth $10,000] there were tralians understand the importance of
Mining Club president Damian Quail told many questioning why would they want the mining sector to our broader eco-
Paydirt. to join an industry that destroys the envi- nomic prosperity and understand the
Quail has taken the mantle of president ronment and kills wildlife,” Quail said. importance of the mining sector in cre-
from Kirsty Danby who took the club’s “There is a pretty mixed view in uni- ating jobs and opportunities, particularly
networking events to the “next level” and versities and schools on what mining is in country and regional areas but also
played an influential role in ensuring the about. Having worked as a mining lawyer in major cities like Perth. We saw that
Club became more inclusive, with female for 25 years I don’t see it as being bad. last year in the federal election with sig-
membership and participation boosted Sure, we dig holes and that will inevitably nificant support for those political par-
under Danby’s leadership. have some impact on the environment, ties who were supporting and advocat-
Maintaining Danby’s “slick” approach but what I see as a mining lawyer is a ing mining projects across Australia, so
to coordinating events on the back of lot of good environmental initiatives and I think that is fundamentally very strong
attracting the best-of-the-best mining I seem to spend more time dedicated and it is also brought out in some of the
talent to present and interact with the to preparing environmental reports and data that indicates support for the mining
broader mining community will remain a statements, flora, fauna and heritage sector is at record highs across the Aus-
focus for Quail and the Club’s leadership. studies than actual mining activity. You tralian people.”
To this end, for the first time ever an can’t dig a hole until you’ve done all that Canavan said people were also be-
events sub-committee has been appoint- and I just don’t think the mining indus- coming increasingly aware of the impor-
ed to set the agenda for the Club in 2020. try has communicated that aspect well tance mining has in the development of
Members can expect to see an em- enough.” new technologies, not only in Australia,
phasis on promoting the green creden- According to Federal Minister for Re- but around the world.
tials of mining under Quail’s presidency. sources Hon Matt Canavan, a good in- “I think the primary reason why Austral-
For too long mining has been whipped dication of regard for the mining industry ians support mining is because of what it
for being an industry that is “dirty, digs was demonstrated by last year’s Federal delivers for Australia – economic devel-
big holes and destroys the environment”, election, during which key coal mining ar- opment, job creation – but we shouldn’t
according to Quail, who is eager to enact eas were integral in returning the Coali- forget how important it is for the devel-
change. tion Government. opment of the world. The greatest thing

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