Many of the South West’s business leaders turned out last week for the Chamber of Minerals and Energy’s South West Regional Council Meeting and networking event.
Members heard presentations from Edith Cowan University South West Campus, representatives from the Department of Training and Workforce Development and the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
CME President Brian Reilly and CME CEO Reg Howard Smith said the outlook for the resources sector remains bright in Western Australia, with the industry being the largest economic contribution for the south west region. Local members represent alumina production within the region, coal and gold mining, mineral sands producers, silica sands and spodumene production.
Mr Howard Smith said WA’s resources sector continues to be a major contributor for the state, accounting for $102 billion in sales value and 89% of the State’s merchandise export income and generating State royalties of $5.3 billion.
He said the CME also welcomed recent Federal Coalition’s recent commitments.
“We welcome the commitment for a “one-stop-shop” policy to help deliver more streamlined and cost efficient approvals, bilateral agreements for environmental assessment and approvals to avoid costly duplication by the Commonwealth reducing involvement on a project-by-project basis, and more focus on strategic outcomes for biodiversity.
“The abolition of unnecessary additional tax costs and compliance burdens targeting the resources sector such as Mineral Resource Rent Tax is another good move.”
Mr Howard Smith said he believes that the resource sector will continue to a significant contributor to the national economy for many years into the future.
Photograph available on request.
