Page 14 - pd294-June21-mag-web_Neat

neWs

More resourceful than ever

n preparing its latest community cam- fully we will find people engaging with
Ipaign – More Resourceful – it was re- that,” Pearce said.
inforced to the Association of Mining and “So far, the feedback has been good,
Exploration Companies (AMEC) that with 15,000 views in the first four days
outside the traditional mining hubs of of the first video being released. We
Western Australia and Queensland, little have found that people had been spend-
thought was given to the country’s mining ing 1.5-2 minutes clicking and having a
sector. look around. If we want people to have
However, rather than a negative it was a positive view of the industry we have
an opportunity to enhance the industry’s to engage them. If they are interested in
brand, AMEC chief executive Warren doing that, then we have a chance of that
Pearce told Paydirt. happening.”
“Through some of the focus groups Pearce said more videos and a range
late last year we found out pretty quickly of cuts over the next 3-6 months are in
that most people essentially don’t think the pipeline, with an emphasis on show-
about mining unless they are connected ing how industry is working to better the
with someone in the industry,” Pearce environment around it.
said. “We have acknowledged that there
The Federal Government has allocated
a further $100 million to extend the JMEI
programme for another four years

ernment in Australia.
At the time of print, the Federal Gov-
ernment announced it would extend the
Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive
(JMEI) by $100 million over four more
years.
Over 260,000 people are employed in
Australia’s mining sector, which is expe-
riencing high times at operational level
and on the ground in exploration.
The JMEI, a tax credit arrangement
allowing exploration companies to pass
future tax deductions (losses) to Aus-
tralian resident investors for greenfields
mineral exploration in Australia, has so
far supported 85 exploration companies
projects covering most states.
Pearce welcomed the Government’s
decision to reinvest in the programme,
Warren Pearce which has already led to Stavely Miner-
als Ltd’s copper-gold project in Victoria.
“Places like WA and Queensland had have been some things done in the past “The continuation of this will be critical
much better knowledge; people in Mel- that haven’t been great,” Pearce said. to attracting greater private investment
bourne and Sydney don’t think about the “We recognise that as an industry and into exploration if we are to unlock new
mining industry, so it is actually not a bad there is an unfortunate legacy that has mineral jurisdictions from the massive
thing because it gives us an opportunity impacted the way that communities and unexplored areas of Australia,” Pearce
to bring them on board and become sup- the public feel about our industry…a lot said.
porters of the industry.” has changed, particularly how we oper- “Combined with the $225 million Ex-
The digitally-based More Resourceful ate and care for the environment. That ploring for the Future Programme, the
campaign was launched on AMEC’s web- is important to communicate, especially Federal Government is making a major
site and social media streams last month, to young people that perhaps haven’t investment in discovering new resources
with an initial three stories – Homemade formed a view of the industry and might for development which will help Australia
potash helping homegrown avocados; be negatively influenced,” Pearce said. and the world meet its resource needs,
Striking gold for North Queensland; and While the impact of mining on the envi- create new jobs and contribute to future
Choices made today define us tomorrow. ronment remains an ongoing concern for government revenue streams.”
“More Resourceful provides us a people, Pearce said the positives of in-
theme to talk more in breadth about how dustry’s contribution to the economy and – Mark Andrews
things have changed in our industry and great provider of jobs was recognised in
what we are working towards and hope- the community and by the top tier of gov-

Page 14 JUNe 2021 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT