WA Government delivers mining reforms

The Western Australian Government has delivered a major boost to the state’s resources sector, with the progression of the Mining Amendment Bill 2025.

The Mining Amendment Bill 2025 includes 11 key changes to the Mining Act 1978, ranging from the ability to excise areas from exploration licence applications to clarifying expenditure reporting and exemption processes.

Other changes modernise language, remove obsolete provisions and enhance tenure indefeasibility.

The reforms were welcomed by the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC), which advocated for greater certainty in the mining sector’s legislative framework.

“These might seem like minor amendments, but they go a long way to resolving long standing tenure issues,” AMEC chief executive officer Warren Pearce said.

“Certainty of mining and exploration tenure is the foundation on which WA’s mining industry’s success is built.”

“(WA) Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael has moved swiftly to address the ramifications of the True Fella and Blue Ribbon cases.”

Originally introduced in December 2024, the Mining Amendment Bill 2025 was delayed by the March 2025 WA election, with an additional four amendments added post-election to reach a total of 11.

Parliament also passed the Mining Amendment (Transfer of Royalty Administration) Bill 2025, transferring royalty collection and administration responsibilities from the Mines and Petroleum Minister to the Finance Minister.

This change moves the functions from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety to the Department of Finance’s Revenue WA, aiming to streamline royalty compliance and align the state with other jurisdictions.

“While the amendments made through this legislation are mechanical in nature, they represent modernisation of the Act and a new way forward for the collection of royalties,” Michael said.

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