Australia
The
commonwealth of Australia is a highly developed country with world’s seventh
highest per capita income. The country is comprised of mainland, Australian
continent (7.618 million km2 surface area), surrounded by more than 8000
islands in Indian and Pacific Ocean that includes Tasmania (68,000 km2). The
population is estimated to be 22.70 million as on 2011. Australia follows
constitutional monarchy with federal parliamentary system of government with
Queen Elizabeth II at its apex. Australia has six states and two major mainland
territories.
The
mineral resource base industries are the key pillar of Australian economy.
Australia is the world’s leading producer of bauxite (65 Mt) and iron ore
(393.9 Mt), the second largest producer of alumina (19.6 Mt), lead (0.57 Mt)
and manganese (4.45 Mt), the third of brown coal (66 Mt), gold (~250 t), nickel
(185 kt), zinc (1.29 Mt) and uranium (1.224 Mt U), the fourth of aluminum (2
Mt), black coal (445 Mt) and silver (1.63 kt), and finally the fifth largest producer
of tin during 2009.
The
mineral policy and mining legislation are largely provincial. Mines and
minerals are a state subject in Australia and hence each of the six states and
two major territories has their own mining legislation. Although there are many
similarities, differences in legislation from state to state are also very
significant. The policy framework and Acts are powerful with clarity,
efficiency and competitive in the process to make the fortune. But the system
is quite complex on certain issues.
The legislation as framed in Western Australia can be considered
as model for discussion, with some deviation from other states and territories.
The Act may be cited as Mining Act 1978 and updated
2009. The mining tenement or concession includes PL, exploration
license, retention license, ML, general purpose lease and miscellaneous license
granted or acquired under this Act or by virtue of the repealed Act. The Act
includes the specified piece of land in respect of which the tenement is so
granted or acquired. The application for all types of license in prescribed
format is to be submitted to the office of the mining registrar or warden of
the mineral field or district in which the largest portion of the land to which
the application relates is situated. The application must be accompanied by the
following documents.
(a) Written description of the area.
(b) A map with clearly delineated tenement boundaries and
coordinates.
(c) Detail program of work proposal.
(d) Mining proposal or mineralization report prepared by a
qualified person.
(e) Estimated amount of money to be expended.
(f) Stipulated fee and the amount of prescribed rent for
the first year or portion thereof.
The mining registrar may grant the license if satisfied that the
applicant has complied in all respects with the provisions of this Act or
refuse the license if not so satisfied. The holder of prospecting and
exploration license will have priority for grant of one or more mining or
general purpose leases or both in respect of any part or parts of the land
while the license in force. The license and lease are transferable.
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| Western AustraliadTenement Type Summary (2009) |
A Comment By
In recent
years all Mining title applications are required to submit a full EIS. The
process of undertaking an EIS can take up to three years and cost around $3M.
There are not too many juniors out there who can commit such resources before
getting into production. Take out the juniors who initiate 90% of new projects
and very soon Australian mining will become a duopoly. Our Industry is being
killed off by gutless politicians and self serving civil servants; it is well
past the time to protest.
Operating Mines in Australia are about 421 mines and project
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