The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia's 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission is a comprehensive blueprint of the action's needed to support the ongoing competitiveness of the resources sector and attract new investment and industries. The WA Government PBS contains more than 80 recommendations focusing on five key policy areas: competitive fiscal settings, efficiency in regulation, energy security and transition, regional economic development and fostering a safe, diverse and productive workforce. Some of the recommendations include: - Committing to no new or increased royalties or taxes. - Adjusting royalty settings to better incentivise value-adding products like magnetite and battery minerals. - Swiftly implementing outstanding recommendations from the Vogel-McFerran - Review to streamline environmental assessments. - Urgently releasing a draft master transmission plan for the SWIS and appropriately resourcing the construction of new transmission infrastructure. - Consulting with industry to priorities both current and future funding for Strategic Industrial Areas. - Working closely with the Australian Government, including through upcoming reviews of recent federal legislation, in support of IR reforms that improve labour productivity. The full PBS is available here https://hubs.ly/Q02W57PB0

The next topic in our National Work Safe Month series focuses on Health Management Plans. A Health Management Plan (HMP) identifies potential health hazards for all workers at mining operations and outlines monitoring and assessment strategies to protect their well-being. Through regular inspections, audits, and health monitoring, mine operators ensure that exposure levels remain safe and effective risk management practices are in place. Access and download the information sheets directly from the CME website.

The WA mining industry’s position as a global leader in sustainable practice was front and centre at last week’s 2024 ESG Global Leaders Conference in Shanghai - the largest event of its kind in China - co-hosted by CITIC Group. During a panel session The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia CEO Rebecca Tomkinson spoke about the WA industry’s journey to embed ESG best practice into everyday operations, to not only meet regulatory requirements but growing corporate social responsibility expectations from the wider community. Mrs Tomkinson said the WA industry stood ready to share these experiences with other mining jurisdictions, for a more sustainable global industry. She also highlighted the close and mutually beneficial economic relationship between WA and China. Among the 270 speakers at the two-day event were IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ivanhoe Mining founder Robert Friedland and CITIC Group Chairman Xi Guohua. While in China, Mrs Tomkinson also took the opportunity to meet with one of the country’s leading power generators Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd and inspect CITIC PACIFIC SPECIAL STEEL HOLDINGS's highly advanced steelmaking facility in Jiangyin – the latter a longstanding customer for Western Australian iron ore. #CMEWA #ironore #WAGovernment #mining #ESG #sustainability #greeniron

The first topic in our National Work Safe Month series focuses on Diesel emissions. Diesel engines release harmful emissions, including diesel particulate matter, exhaust gases, and metallic compounds, posing risks in enclosed spaces like underground mines and workshops. Inadequate ventilation can lead to dangerous accumulation of these pollutants. It’s crucial to also consider heat, noise, vibration, and nanoparticles when managing risks for workers near diesel engines. Prioritizing safety and proper ventilation is essential for a healthier work environment!

This National Work Safe Month, CME is launching a series of health and hygiene information sheets in line with the 2022 Work Health and Safety laws. Funded through the Work Health and Safety Implementation Peak Body Grants program, these sheets—developed with Red OHMS—cover crucial topics like workplace exposure standards, health monitoring, heat stress, and asbestos. Created with input from CME’s Health and Hygiene Working Group, these resources are available to all WA workplaces on the CME website.

A big congratulations to Alistair Jones. CME looks forward to continuing to work closely alongside both Alistair and DWER.

Fantastic turnout at the Women in Resources Awards Networking Sundowner in Bunbury to hear former CME president Fiona Hick sharing insights from her nearly 30-year career in the resources sector. Fiona encouraged attendees to step outside their comfort zones, challenge poor behaviour in the workplace and recognise their role in driving change and improvement. A big thanks also to Albemarle Corporation who sponsored the evening.

CME Head of Economics Aaron Walker delivered a keynote presentation on day one of the WA Mining Conference and Exhibition that outlined some of the key developments impacting industry over the past 18 months. - Falls in key commodity prices, including iron ore, lithium and nickel - Rising costs including electricity in the SWIS - Declining employment, with WA resources sector employment down 20,000 jobs since May 2023 - Increasing regulatory uncertainty, primarily at a Federal level through new industrial relations laws and proposed environmental reforms To overcome these challenges, the CME continues to advocate for the State Government to deliver on key priorities including streamlining approvals, decarbonising our state's electricity grids and developing fully turnkey Strategic Industrial Areas. At a Federal level, its important all policy levers are working in the same direction to support a sector that is so pivotal to Australia’s prosperity.

The final day of plenary and breakout sessions focussed on the importance of collaboration and partnerships between business and community sectors and the dual goals of net zero and nature positive, which are intrinsically linked. Determining common data metrics and accessible data sources, that provide locally sourced data was a key takeaway from breakout sessions that focussed on use of data in achieving nature positive. Indigenous leadership and engagement with First Nations peoples was highlighted as key to sustainability. Traditional knowledge will play a vital role in helping understand and report our impact on nature.

Global Nature Positive Summit - Day One Fantastic to see such a large contingent of West Australians, including state government departments, community-based and indigenous-owned organisations and resource sector representatives attending the Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney. These WA connections are truly reflective of the broader collaboration required between government, community and industry to successfully implement a nature positive approach. It has been clear from all today's speakers that business and the private sector will need to play a key role to make a nature positive Australia a reality. Business leaders presenting at the conference have highlighted the need to develop common terminology, reliable and accessible scientific data and settings that enable sustainable business investment in nature. The opening day of the summit also brought a commitment from Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to expand the sub-Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park by a further 310,000sqm - which means more than half of Australia's oceans are now protected.