Ellis attempts late night session amendments to Mining Bill

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis MP moved two clause amendments during passage of the Statutes Amendment (Energy and Mining Reforms) Bill in a late-night session of Parliament last night, in an attempt to avert further impact for farming communities dealing with land access issues with mining companies.

Whilst his proposed amendments were ultimately lost to a 13-21 vote in the chamber, Mr Ellis felt compelled to fight against the legislation changes put by the government, that provide absolute discretion capacity to any Minister for Mining to extend exploration licences as he or she see fit.

“What is really very disappointing is that none of the key concerns or recommendations raised under Select Committee four years ago after extensive community input, and likewise again earlier this year in response to the Mining Act Issues Paper, have made it into this new Bill. This reinforced to me fears the reform process is designed primarily to facilitate new mining activity and ignores South Australia’s agricultural industry”, Mr Ellis said.

“The five major areas of change in the Bill included extending exploration licences to a maximum of 18 years with further extensions and multiple renewals possible at the Minister’s discretion, meaning land holders face more years of the uncertainty and distress that comes with mining companies seeking to drill on their farming land.

“My clause amendments called for an extension of two years and that the extension can only be allowed once at the Minister’s discretion in extenuating circumstances, not for five years with capacity to keep renewing every five years thereafter.

“I also fought to have the Bill debate adjourned until February after harvest when farmers weren’t so busy, but with only five set sitting days left for the year the Government had intent to finalise swiftly.”

The Ellis amendments were supported by Independents and Liberal MPs but was voted down by the Government 13-21. At third reading of the Bill in its entirety, only three members opposed (Ellis, McBride, Brock) and now the rushed through Statutes Amendment (Energy and Mining Reforms) Bill has passed to the Upper House for consideration.