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neWs

Discounted raising designed

made to the Department of Mines, Indus-
try Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), de-
tailing the reasons an extension of time to restart Dacian
is required through the existing Form 5
process.
“Of course, in the exploration sector for
the first time in history we have issued a
directive to the delegates of the depart-
ment so that people can claim an exemp-
tion from expenditure obligations based
on COVID19. We saw that as a sensible
way of supporting industry. We have
taken about $190 million of obligations
off the exploration sector to deal with this
current crisis,” Johnston said.
“People can deal with this, but they still
need to submit their Form 5 and be con-
fident they will be able to retain ground
without having to risk going to isolated ar-
eas where we are trying to keep people The G2G PASS app went live in late April and can be accessed by anyone. Paper-
away from Aboriginal communities. We based forms will also remain available for interstate travel, while people travelling WA
are very pleased to support the explora- will be able to apply for manual exemption at checkpoints, subject to having correct
tion sector and we are looking forward to supporting documentation in hand. Both exemption methods are free to use. Visit the
it coming back even stronger after these G2G Pass website or the WA Government website for further information
restrictions.
“We’ve had a very high level of pro- welcomed, AMEC is calling on the Fed- “As a result, they do not have a turno-
gramme of works applications which is eral Government to widen the scope of ver to reduce by 30%, meaning that they
an indication of exploration activity right the $130 billion JobKeeper package. do not fit a key test to qualify for support
up to the start of COVID-19 restrictions. AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce under the JobKeeper initiative despite
We are very hopeful that with the sup- said the eligibility criteria for JobKeeper clearly it. AMEC is calling on the [Fed-
port of the Federal Government we will allowance essentially excluded small eral] Government to widen the criteria,
be able to keep all those explorers go- exploration companies because they to ensure that small mineral exploration
ing and we would really hope and expect don’t have any turnover. companies can access the financial sup-
that there will be a strong comeback “They exist on their ability to raise in- port that they need, and so that they are
post-COVID-19 restrictions,” he said. vestment from which they fund explora not unintentionally excluded.”
While the WA Government’s explora- tion and employ staff,” Pearce said.
tion expenditure exemption has been – Mark Andrews

Activity in Western Australia’s mining sector remains lively amid the global coronavirus health crisis

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