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oPInIon

The recent release of the Chamber of Minerals & Energy of wA’s

annual economic contribution factsheets is a good time to pause for a
moment and ask: “How did we get here?”

o sum up the data into one neat sen- But even with those people there are still In WA – and indeed Australia – mining
Ttence, a survey of 65 CME member other relationships that are absolutely inte- and resources sector operators go about
companies showed they made direct con- gral to our sector being able to operate as their business in an environment where
tributions of $83 billion and nearly $52 bil- efficiently as it does. taxation and royalty rates, and regulatory
lion to the Australian and West Australian The wider public sees some of our op- oversight are largely stable. In a sector that
economies respectively in FY2020. erations and output, and probably hears a relies on future investment, and with some
Given this reflects a majority but not all fair bit about the economic benefits it de- $140 billion in projects in the WA pipeline,
our membership, and that there are min- livers. What they probably don’t know so this stability is extremely important.
ing and resources operators in WA outside much about is the behind-the-scenes work That’s not to say everything is perfect.
our umbrella, it’s fair to suggest the sec- involved in achieving this. CME continues to advocate strongly for
tor’s actual total contributions further streamlining of regula-
would have been significantly tory process. Our sector very
larger than this. much supports robust over-
Going back to my original sight, including for environmen-
question, WA has obviously tal approvals, but unnecessary
been blessed with some rich duplication of process doesn’t
mineral and resource depos- help anyone.
its. We’re fortunate enough to Although removing “red tape”
have strong reserves of a wide is a work in progress, it’s pleas-
range of commodities that are ing that government recognises
in demand around the world: the issue and how it potentially
iron ore, gold, LNG, nickel, lith- impacts economic develop-
ium, rare earths and copper, to ment.
name but a few. And that’s one of the great
Of course, it’s one thing to advantages of operating in the
have these reserves and an- stable political jurisdictions
other to make use of them. the WA mining and resources
And the starting point for that is Paul Everingham sector exists in. When there is
the sector’s workforce. a shared problem – be it the
I can’t say enough about that workforce, Being able to operate safely and ef- COVID-19 pandemic or skills shortages –
both historically and especially over the fectively through COVID-19 has taken a we know that government is willing to listen
past 18 months or so since COVID-19 good deal of collaboration with a variety and work with us to tackle the challenge.
started impacting Australia. The sacrifices of stakeholders. I’ve mentioned our work- If you look at that $83 billion contribution
they have made during the pandemic have ers already but there is also, by way of and the way it flows to so many communi-
been significant and it’s not overstating example, government at all levels, health ties around WA and across Australia, that
things to say none of our sector’s achieve- authorities, police, airports, ports and air- ability to collaborate benefits all of us.
ments would be possible without skills, line partners.
professionalism and commitment of those Our sector’s ability to work with govern- Paul Everingham is chief executive of the
workers. ments is critical, both from a practical, day- Chamber of Minerals & Energy WA
In fact, I often say that the people in min- to-day operational perspective and also
ing and resources are our greatest assets. from a bigger picture point of view.

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