Shadow Water Minister Peter Rundle MLA has congratulated Western Australia’s State Government on finally recognising that it should investigate the potential for a desalination plant in Esperance but warns it against ignoring other aspects of water supply, use and management crucial to shoring up future supplies.
While supportive of an Esperance desalination plant if proven viable, Mr Rundle said the Cook Government must also address a range of broader water supply and management issues.
“In Esperance, for example, there is a need for investment in recycling of wastewater, an infrastructure improvement that could help protect potable water supplies,” Mr Rundle said.
Mr Rundle said that the State Government had not exactly showered itself in glory in terms of water management, despite recognising the drying climate.
“We need to protect groundwater resources, strengthen water licensing and compliance, and keep on top of the maintenance and replacement of aging infrastructure,” Mr Rundle said.
Mr Rundle said that he could not help but be amused by the fact that the Cook Government was now embracing a concept which it described as a “thought bubble”, in the lead up the most recent State Election.
“After years of saying that a desalination plant in Esperance made no sense, here we are, with Roger Cook proudly touting such a thing as a workable option on morning radio, keen to receive accolades for such foresight,” Mr Rundle said.
Mr Rundle said that the WA Nationals had long been willing to support a plan which involved the construction of a desalination plant to help meet the future water needs of both the Goldfields and Esperance regions.
This would also benefit the smaller inland communities like Grass Patch and Salmon Gums, and mining and pastoral operations throughout the Goldfields.
“We took a clear policy to the recent State Election, committing $100 million towards an Esperance desalination plant,” Mr Rundle said.
“As I have said before, this government has yet to prove that it is serious about practical, long-term water solutions to secure the future of regional Western Australia.”
Shadow Minister for Fisheries Kirrilee Warr MLA has questioned the Cook Labor Government’s approach to shark mitigation, saying Western Australians still have no clear evidence the current strategy is delivering results.
On Tuesday, the Fisheries Minister announced a $5 million investment into shark mitigation, including increased patrols and expansions to shark tagging and receiver infrastructure.
Ms Warr questioned how the Government could justify further investment without demonstrating the effectiveness of existing measures.
“Before announcing another $5 million, the Minister should explain what evidence exists that the current shark mitigation strategy is working and how this additional investment will improve safety outcomes for Western Australians,” she said.
“No one would argue against investing in public safety, but the community deserves to know how success is being measured and what practical difference this package will make in the water.”
“Regional communities such as Geraldton, Esperance and Albany, where recent attacks have occurred, deserve certainty that they will receive the support and protection they need heading into summer.
“The promise to double shark tagging might sound impressive, but communities deserve clarity on when it will happen, where it will occur and how it will improve public safety.
“We still do not have up-to-date information from the Commonwealth on shark populations in our waters, so Western Australians deserve to know whether the Minister has sought updated advice to help inform these decisions.”
Ms Warr said transparency and accountability must underpin any expansion of the State’s shark mitigation strategy.
“The Minister is asking Western Australians to have confidence in an expanded shark mitigation strategy without showing how the existing strategy is being measured or whether it is delivering results,” she said.
“The Government needs to demonstrate what is working, what is not, and how this additional investment will be measured moving forward.”
Shadow Minister for Volunteering Hon. Rob Horstman MLC said volunteer surf lifesavers needed support to ensure their workload was not stretched as a result of additional patrols.
“Surf Life Saving WA will play a significant role as part of this funding, and our volunteers will have an important role in its delivery,” he said.
“There is a continued reliance on volunteers as part of the strategy, and it will be important for the Cook Labor Government to support them through this process, particularly the skilled drone operators who will help deliver these additional surveillance measures.”
Shadow Minister for Fisheries Kirrilee Warr MLA says serious questions need to be answered about the data underpinning Western Australia’s shark mitigation strategy, with the Cook Labor Government continuing to rely on external population estimates, while spending millions of dollars on shark management measures.
It follows reports from former WA fisheries scientist Jim Penn, who has more than 40 years’ experience in fisheries stock assessment in Australia and overseas, estimating shark numbers off the WA coast could be as high as 10,000. By comparison CSIRO population estimates relied upon by the State Government, last updated in 2018, place the figure at around 1,500.
Ms Warr said the public needs to have confidence the system is working to feel safe.
“The Fisheries Minister and the Premier have confirmed the WA Government is reliant on CSIRO data in order to inform their actions,” she said.
“Investing in shark mitigation is important, but effective management depends on reliable and current information. How can the Government be confident its strategy is working if shark population data is years out of date? Western Australians deserve greater transparency about the data being used to justify these decisions and assess whether the strategy is achieving results.”
Ms Warr said there needed to be a review of the strategy to ensure the safety of people in the water, where practical.
“I have written to the Fisheries Minister formally requesting a review into WA’s shark mitigation strategy be conducted,” she said.
“It’s disappointing the Minister has not responded and continues to deflect responsibility instead of taking accountability. A review could provide an opportunity to examine the effectiveness of the current measures, consider alternatives, and ensure public funds are being used appropriately.
“As we approach another summer, Western Australians should be able to trust that shark mitigation measures are being guided by the best up-to-date information and delivering measurable outcomes.”
Ms Warr said this is the latest in a series of errors in the Fisheries portfolio under the Cook Labor Government.
“WA has lost faith in the Cook Labor Government, when it comes to fisheries management,” she said.
“The public made their concerns known in one of the biggest petitions in the State Parliament’s history following the demersal fishing ban, which saw businesses shut with only three weeks’ notice.
“Despite the concerns, we continue to see this Minister continue to flounder when it comes to fishing in WA.”
The Nationals WA have welcomed the long-awaited completion of Laverton Hospital, over a decade after the project was fully funded by the Liberal National Government through Royalties for Regions in 2015.
Nationals WA Leader Shane Love MLA paid tribute to the Laverton community and Shire President Pat Hill for their determination and advocacy in fighting to deliver a modern health facility for the community.
“Despite massive setbacks, including the WA Labor Government axing funding for this essential project among its first acts after coming to office in 2017, Pat Hill and the Laverton community never gave up,” Mr Love said.
“Laverton had a fully funded hospital project ready to go, with $19 million committed under Royalties for Regions. But when Labor came to power, then Health Minister Roger Cook slashed that funding and told the resources industry to pick up the tab for a project already funded. It took years of community campaigning, Opposition pressure and a $16.4 million commitment from the Federal Coalition Government in 2019 to get the project back on track.”
Mr Love said Laverton residents should never have had to fight this hard for a hospital that was already funded and ready to be delivered in 2016.
“The local Member for Kalgoorlie should also answer for her failure to deliver on her promise that this project would be completed by the end of 2023,” Mr Love said.
“That promise came and went, just like so many other commitments to regional Western Australians, while Labor continued to pour billions into Perth projects.”
Nationals WA Member for the Legislative Council Rob Horstman MLC also welcomed the project’s completion.
“While Laverton residents have waited far too long, it is still a major win for the community to finally see practical completion of this much-needed local healthcare facility,” Mr Horstman said. Pat Hill and the Laverton community deserve enormous credit for continuing to fight for the services their town needs.
“Unfortunately, Laverton is just one example of the delays regional communities have endured under the Cook Labor Government, with hospital projects across WA, including Meekatharra, Mullewa, and Tom Price, also well behind schedule.”
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Hon. Rob Horstman MLC says the commencement of Temporary Disaster Roaming (TDR) by Australia’s major mobile operators still leaves significant gaps for regional and remote communities in Western Australia.
From 1 October, telecommunications providers can activate TDR during natural disasters, allowing customers to connect to another participating network if their usual service fails.
Mr Horstman said the change would improve emergency communications during bushfires, cyclones and floods, but its effectiveness would remain limited in many parts of regional Western Australia.
“Being able to make a call, send a message or access critical information when your normal mobile network has failed is absolutely crucial,” Mr Horstman said.
“However, the weakness in this system is that it only works where another network remains available, and for many regional communities there simply isn’t a second network to roam onto.
“If the only tower servicing a town goes offline during a cyclone, bushfire or major storm, Temporary Disaster Roaming cannot help.
“That is why this rollout cannot distract from the bigger issue: too many regional and remote Western Australians still live, work and travel through areas with little or no reliable mobile coverage.
“Persistent mobile black spots mean there are communities where disaster roaming will offer little protection because the underlying telecommunications infrastructure simply isn’t there.
“Regional Western Australians are among the most exposed to natural disasters, yet they continue to face some of the greatest communications vulnerabilities.”
Mr Horstman said TDR should not be viewed as ‘mission accomplished’, and its rollout must be closely monitored.
“TDR is a step forward, but it is no substitute for stronger regional coverage, better backup power and greater network redundancy.
“The Federal Government must continue investing in regional telecommunications infrastructure and addressing the black spots that leave communities vulnerable, particularly during an emergency.”
Shadow Minister for Road Safety Hon Julie Freeman MLC has expressed grave concern that, in the first week of October, Western Australia’s 2026 road toll is on track to be the worst result in over a decade.
With three further fatalities overnight, two in Boddington and one in Port Hedland, 164 people have now lost their lives on WA roads, twenty more than this time last year.
“We still have almost three months of the year to go. Many Western Australians know someone who has been killed or seriously injured on our roads. That should not be normal, and it should not be accepted.”
Ms Freeman said regional Western Australians continue to bear the brunt, with 93 of this year’s 164 deaths occurring on regional roads, despite only around one in five Western Australians living outside Perth. That’s 57 per cent of the toll in the regions.
Ms Freeman said recent announcements from Labor Road Safety Minister, including expanded high school road safety education, roadside testing for cocaine and two new camera trailers for Bunbury, were welcome but was unlikely to have any meaningful impact on the road toll.
“I support each of these measures. But cocaine testing simply brings WA into line with most other states, and two cameras for Bunbury is not a strategy for a state of this size. This is tinkering at the edges of a growing crisis.”
National Road Safety Data Hub figures show WA has the worst per capita road fatality rate of any state in Australia.
Ms Freeman said that, given the resources of the Road Trauma Trust Account and the Cook Labor Government’s much-lauded budget surpluses, the community would rightly expect WA’s roads to be some of the safest in the country.
“The new Minister has brought no new ideas and no new direction. It is time for an urgent and meaningful review of the Government’s approach, and an urgent investigation of what is working in other jurisdictions.”
Shadow Minister for Water Peter Rundle MLA says a damning Auditor General’s report has exposed serious failures within the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), raising concerns about the Cook Labor Government’s management of contaminated water sites across Western Australia.
The report, released earlier this week, found more than 1,200 potentially contaminated sites have been awaiting additional assessment information for more than five years with limited follow-up, while 771 sites were assigned to staff who no longer worked at the Department, including 110 high priority sites requiring further assessment.
Mr Rundle said the findings revealed a breakdown in basic governance, oversight and case management within an agency responsible for protecting public and environmental health.
“The Auditor General’s report raises serious questions about the Cook Labor Government’s ability to manage one of its most important environmental responsibilities.
“When hundreds of contaminated sites are assigned to staff who no longer work at the Department and more than 1,200 cases have been awaiting information for over five years, it is clear the system is not working as it should.”
Mr Rundle said the scale of the ever growing backlog was particularly concerning given contaminated sites can pose risks to public health and the environment, with new reports of potential contamination continuing to outpace the number of sites being reassessed or reclassified unacceptable.
“DWER is entrusted with protecting Western Australians from contamination risks that could affect where they live, work and recreate. People deserve confidence that assessments are being carried out promptly and thoroughly. Instead, this report paints a picture of a department struggling to keep track of its caseload.
“Basic follow-up, record-keeping, oversight and accountability are fundamental responsibilities of any regulator.
“I am calling on the Minister for Water to urgently outline what action will be taken to clear the backlog, strengthen oversight and ensure high-priority cases receive immediate attention.
“The Cook Government must explain how it intends to provide assurances that Western Australians are not being exposed to unnecessary risks because of administrative failures within DWER.”
Scott Leary MLA Member for Albany said, “The WA Government must step in and act to protect families and children who are being repeatedly exposed to violent, criminal and deeply distressing behaviour associated with public housing properties in Albany.”
Mr Leary has repeatedly raised concerns with the WA Government on behalf of constituents who say they are living in fear and distress because of ongoing behaviour occurring in and around Department of Housing and Works properties.
Mr Leary said, “The Government has a responsibility not only to the tenants of public housing, but also to the broader community living around them.”
These concerns are not about denying anyone access to housing or ignoring the challenges faced by people in need. They are about the fundamental right of every resident, to live safely and peacefully in their own home.
“Community housing is a privilege, not a right,” Mr Leary said.
“Community housing is a valuable resource for people who genuinely need assistance, but that does not mean the privilege comes without obligations.”
“People who are provided with a public housing home are expected to comply with their tenancy obligations and respect the peace, privacy, comfort and safety of their neighbours,” said Mr Leary.
Mr Leary said, “When a small number of tenants repeatedly engage in behaviour that places other residents, in fear or distress, the Government cannot simply turn a blind eye.”
“We are effectively rewarding bad behaviour when people who continually breach the expectations of their tenancy face no meaningful consequences, while innocent families are left to deal with the consequences,” said Mr Leary.
“A year ago, I stood in Parliament and read a letter from an 11-year-old Albany girl who had been traumatised by her exposure to this type of behaviour. A child should not have to feel frightened in her own home. Sadly, that little girl is not an isolated case. I am aware of other families in Albany experiencing identical circumstances,” explained Mr Leary.
Mr Leary said, “The issue was not about punishing people who genuinely need housing assistance, but about ensuring that access to community housing came with an expectation of responsible behaviour”
Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr MLA says the money spent promoting WA’s renewable transition does nothing for the future of Geraldton, saying the Cook Labor Government aimed to prioritise advertising instead of securing Geraldton’s transmission going forward.
The State Government’s ‘State of Energy’ campaign, costing $30 million, aims to highlight WA’s renewable transition, but failed to highlight any transition to Geraldton.
“This Cook Labor Government takes any and every opportunity to spruik its work, but fails when it comes to explaining where transmission upgrades for Geraldton are at,” Ms Warr said.
“We know we would need significantly more than $30 million to upgrade the transmission here, but is advertising how transition is occurring without having the plan in place to Geraldton an appropriate use of taxpayer funds?”
Ms Warr said the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area had been touted for years as a renewable hub, but remained without activation.
“The Mid West has some of WA’s best renewable resources in wind and solar, yet all that is there is an access road to a paddock,” she said.
“If this Government was serious about its renewable energy strategy, a plan would be in place to activate Oakajee, which would no doubt require the upgrade in transmission to Geraldton.”
Ms Warr is calling for the State Government to commit to a 330kV transmission upgrade to Geraldton, as well as having a reliable back up source to ensure the region does not lose power in significant weather events.
“Business leaders have been calling for these transmission upgrades for years, but the Cook Labor Government continues to sit on its hand,” she said.
“We can’t transition without transmission.
“Geraldton needs these upgrades to ensure the region can continue to grow and thrive into the future.”
A petition urging the State Government to commit to delivering upgraded transmission to Geraldton, along with a timeline for delivery is active on the WA Parliament website.
The petition closes on Wednesday, September 30.
The Cook Labor Government’s latest child protection announcement in South Hedland is grossly inadequate, with Nationals MLC Julie Freeman warning that temporary measures fail to address the systemic problems leaving vulnerable children at risk across Western Australia.
The Government today announced additional specialist child protection staff, increased oversight of complex and outstanding cases, and further measures to support vulnerable children in South Hedland.
Ms Freeman said the announcement failed to explain how the Government intended to address the underlying circumstances that had left children living in appalling conditions.
“This is a band aid solution to a much bigger problem,” she said.
“We cannot pretend that giving a child somewhere safe to go for a few hours at night makes up for the neglect they may face for the other 20 hours of the day.
“What happens when that safe space closes? Where do these children go? Who is making sure they have a safe home to return to?
“These children deserve more than a few hours of safety. They deserve a childhood free from neglect, with the care, protection and stability that every child should be able to take for granted.
“The Minister herself has acknowledged there are streets like Frisby Court in towns across regional Western Australia, so what is she actually doing to identify and protect the children living in those conditions?
“We could be talking about hundreds, potentially thousands, of vulnerable children across Western Australia who are not receiving the protection they need.
“This is a child safety crisis, and the Government must be held accountable for what it knew, when it knew it and what action it took to protect these children.
“The Government must demonstrate that it has a coordinated, statewide response to child neglect, with clear accountability and meaningful intervention that addresses the circumstances putting these children at risk.
“No child should have to endure a life of neglect while the Government looks the other way. These children need protection around the clock, not just somewhere to go when the sun goes down.
“WA Labor has been in government for almost a decade. This is their legacy.”
Nationals WA Hon Rob Horstman MLC says the tragic fatal shark attack at Sorrento has again exposed how heavily Western Australia depends on thousands of volunteers to help keep people safe along its coastline, raising broader questions about whether they are being adequately supported.
“Whether it is bushfires, ambulance services or beach safety, volunteers repeatedly form a critical part of Western Australia’s frontline response,” Mr Horstman said.
WA has more than 6,500 trained volunteer surf lifesavers who contribute more than 100,000 patrol hours each year.
Mr Horstman said their contribution was extraordinary, however, volunteers should be backed by appropriate government investment, infrastructure and professional capability.
“They give their weekends, their skills and their time to protect the community. Government needs to make sure that goodwill is supported by the resources and systems required to do the job safely.”
The Cook Government announced on 11 September that metropolitan helicopter patrols would operate only on weekends until daily patrols began on 26 September, with coverage extending from Mandurah to Yanchep and Rottnest Island. The fatal shark attack at Sorrento occurred on Friday 18 September, during that limited operating period.
“Aerial surveillance is a key part of WA’s shark hazard mitigation strategy, and it is reasonable to ask whether its coverage and operating periods are keeping pace with the coastline Western Australians actually use,” Mr Horstman said.
“We cannot continue expecting volunteers on the beach to carry more of the burden if government-funded surveillance and mitigation measures are not being adequately supported.
“Nearly a decade on from the 2017 investment in observation infrastructure, it is reasonable to ask what further action the Government has taken to strengthen surveillance, response capability and support for volunteers along WA’s coastline.
“No system can prevent every shark incident, and yet the question remains whether WA’s current approach matches the scale of our coastline and the reliance placed on volunteers.
“Our surf lifesavers deserve enormous credit. They should also be able to expect a State Government that continually examines where the gaps are and invests accordingly.”
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Lachlan Hunter MP says the Albanese Government has admitted its Working Holiday Maker visa policy was flawed, but WA farmers remain none the wiser about when much-needed workers will actually reach farm gates.
Mr Hunter said, while Immigration Minister Tony Burke had announced an end to the Government’s visa processing slowdown, the announcement failed to provide any timeline or certainty for farmers preparing for harvest.
“Tony Burke says the go-slow is over. Fine. Now tell farmers when their workers are coming,” Mr Hunter said.
“Ending the go-slow means very little if farmers still cannot get a clear answer on when workers will arrive. Harvest won’t wait for bureaucracy. When a crop is ready to come off, workers need to be there.”
Mr Hunter said the Government’s decision to prioritise agriculture and fisheries in skilled visa processing was a positive step, but it did not address the sector’s ongoing reliance on Working Holiday Makers.
“A grain grower who needs additional workers for six or eight weeks during harvest doesn’t necessarily need a permanent skilled migrant. They need access to a flexible seasonal workforce when the work is available,” he said.
Mr Hunter said the proposed ballot system for subsequent Working Holiday Maker visas would create further uncertainty for farmers trying to plan their workforce months in advance.
“Australian farmers are world-class at managing risk. Every season they navigate global market pressures, economic uncertainty and climate challenges,” he said.
“What they cannot manage is the unnecessary risk created by poor government policy. Changing the rules without providing certainty about when workers will arrive makes it harder for farmers to plan and operate their businesses.”
Mr Hunter said Premier Roger Cook and Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis had a responsibility to hold their federal Labor counterparts accountable.
“WA farmers cannot harvest crops with ministerial assurances and press releases. If Tony Burke says the bottleneck has been fixed, then the Cook Government must stop accepting vague assurances and start demanding a clear timeline. Farmers deserve to know when these workers will actually arrive, because harvest won’t wait,” Mr Hunter said.
“Julie Collins and Tony Burke should not leave Canberra until Australian farmers have a clear answer about when they can expect their workforce to arrive.”
Shadow Minister for Local Government Kirrilee Warr MLA has reaffirmed support for local governments, questioning why the State Government is yet to conduct a review of rates for the sector.
In 2020, the Parliamentary Inquiry into Local Government made a number of recommendations, including for the Government to “conduct a broad review of the rate exemptions to be included in any new local government Act”.
Ms Warr questioned why the State Government had refused to conduct such a review.
“A rates review is something the sector has been wanting for some time, yet six years have passed since the report from the Inquiry into Local Government was tabled and we have seen no movement from Cook Labor Government,” she said.
“Having a full review of the rating system would allow all rating options to be considered to ensure local governments can have a rating system that meets the modern demands of society.”
Ms Warr said local governments needed greater opportunities to generate revenue, particularly in regional WA.
“We see more than ever local government are being asked to do more with less, often stepping in to deliver health, housing, and emergency services where higher levels of government have failed,” she said.
“Feedback from the sector is they feel the Act in its current form is not fit for purpose in terms of the ability to rate.
“A broad review into the rating system would help provide certainty going forward in terms of financial sustainability of the local government sector.”
The Nationals WA have previously signalled intention to call for the review of the rating system to take place.
Bevan Eatts MLA, Shadow Minister for Forestry, has accused the Cook Labor Government of risking the future of Western Australia’s native sandalwood industry by pursuing major changes without proper consultation with the people who have spent decades building it.
“Today I raised the issue in Parliament through a grievance to the Government, outlining concerns about plans to remove the Forest Products Commission (FPC) from commercial wild sandalwood operations, and replace the existing model with a licensing system, administered by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)” Mr Eatts said.
Mr Eatts said the proposal threatened one of WA’s oldest export industries and a sustainable regional sector that supports jobs, Indigenous contractors, pastoral businesses and international markets.
“If I can make the time as Shadow Minister to meet stakeholders, travel to Kalgoorlie, visit operations and listen to harvesters, processors, distillers and exporters, why hasn’t the Minister done the same before making decisions that could destroy another sustainable WA industry?” Mr Eatts said.
“This industry has spent decades building its reputation, international customers and the WA sandalwood brand. Once those markets and relationships are lost, you don’t simply get them back.”
Mr Eatts said industry participants remained concerned about the future of the integrated supply chain currently coordinated by the FPC, including harvesting, certification, traceability, processing, market access and regeneration.
“A licence does not replace a supply chain,” Mr Eatts said.
“You cannot take away the structure supporting harvesters, Indigenous contractors, pastoral businesses, processors and exporters and expect everyone to fend for themselves.
“This is also a renewable resource with regeneration built into its commercial model through Operation Woylie. If the Government removes the FPC, who coordinates that regeneration, who supplies the seed and who pays for it?”
Mr Eatts said uncertainty surrounding the Government’s plans was already affecting customer confidence, with industry warning international buyers were considering alternative supply arrangements beyond December 2026.
“This is exactly why you consult before making the decision, not after the damage has been done,” Mr Eatts said.
“WA has something special: a sustainable native industry, a premium product and a brand recognised around the world. The Minister still has the opportunity to sit down with the people who built it and find a sustainable way forward.
“I’ve gone out and listened to them. Why hasn’t the Minister?”
The Cook Labor Government has again proven powerless to influence its federal colleagues, as two major Canberra reforms threaten investment in Western Australia’s resources sector.
Shadow Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Exploration Lachlan Hunter MP said WA Labor has talked tough about protecting Western Australia from Canberra’s proposed national gas reservation scheme and changes to capital gains tax, but had failed to secure the protections WA needs.
Mr Hunter said that despite Premier Roger Cook calling for Western Australia to be carved out of the Commonwealth’s national gas reservation scheme, the Federal Government’s latest proposal did not provide WA with a guaranteed, legislated exemption.
“Western Australia asked for certainty. Instead, Canberra has left the door open to interference in a gas market WA has spent decades building,” Mr Hunter said.
“The Premier can issue all the press releases he likes, but they mean nothing if his Labor colleagues in Canberra simply ignore him.
“WA should have a clear, legislated carve-out, not an exemption that may ultimately depend on the discretion of a Federal Minister.
“Roger Cook wants Western Australians to believe he is standing up to Canberra, but all he has demonstrated is how little influence WA Labor carries within its own party.”
Mr Hunter said the same humiliating pattern was now emerging over Federal Labor’s controversial capital gains tax changes.
The Albanese Government has moved to provide concessions for eligible innovative businesses and start-ups, while junior mineral explorers have not been given a specific equivalent pathway.
The Minerals Council of Australia has warned the changes could reduce investor returns from successful junior exploration investments by at least 19 per cent and make it harder for explorers to attract capital.
“Even WA’s new Mines Minister, Daniel Pastorelli, has now publicly called on his federal Labor colleagues to rethink these changes,” Mr Hunter said.
“But once again, WA Labor appears to hold absolutely no sway with its federal counterparts.
“The pattern is becoming embarrassingly familiar: WA Labor tells Western Australians it disagrees with Canberra, Canberra ignores it and pushes ahead, and Western Australia is left to carry the consequences.
“If Roger Cook and Daniel Pastorelli cannot secure a fair hearing from members of their own party, what hope do they have of securing the outcomes our State deserves?
“Junior explorers are the lifeblood of our mining industry. Today’s exploration creates tomorrow’s mines, jobs, exports and royalties. At a time when we should be fighting for every dollar of exploration investment, Canberra is changing the tax settings while handing concessions to other sectors.
“Western Australia drives the national economy through its resources sector. We should not have to continually beg Canberra not to damage the industries that generate the jobs, investment and royalties our State relies on.
“Roger Cook and Daniel Pastorelli need to stop merely telling Western Australians they disagree with Canberra and start delivering actual outcomes.
“Tough words in Perth are worthless when WA Labor’s federal colleagues treat them as background noise. Western Australia needs a government prepared to put our State ahead of Labor Party ideology, and with enough influence to make Canberra listen.”
