The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) says the passage of the Mining Amendment Bill 2025 through the Western Australian Parliament marks a significant win for the state’s mineral exploration and mining industry.
The legislation, passed by the Legislative Council on Thursday, delivers important reforms to the Mining Act 1978.
AMEC says those reforms resolve long-standing tenure issues, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and provide greater certainty for industry.
CEO Warren Pearce says: “The passage of this bill marks the culmination of years of AMEC advocacy and represents a major step forward for Western Australia’s mining and exploration sector.
“These reforms have been a long time coming and represent a significant achievement for the industry.
“While many of these amendments may appear technical, their practical impact will be substantial, providing greater certainty, reducing unnecessary costs, and removing regulatory obstacles that have frustrated explorers and miners for years.
“These are practical, common-sense reforms that will make a genuine difference to the way exploration and mining companies operate in Western Australia.”
Reforms support WA’s mining ‘powerhouse’
AMEC has actively pursued the reforms since the landmark 2017 Forrest & Forrest Pty Ltd v Wilson & Ors decision, with subsequent court cases, including True Fella and Blue Ribbon, exposing further complexities within the state’s mining tenure framework.
The industry body says the legislative changes address these long-standing issues by providing greater flexibility in exploration licence applications.
“Certainty of tenure is fundamental to attracting investment in mineral exploration and developing the mines of tomorrow,” Pearce says.
“Ultimately, a stronger and more certain tenure system means greater confidence to invest in exploration, discover new mineral deposits, and secure the next generation of Western Australian mines.
“Western Australia is a global mining powerhouse, and we need a legislative framework that supports investment rather than creates unnecessary complexity and uncertainty.”
The reforms also simplify exploration licence application requirements, allowing supporting documentation to be provided within prescribed timeframes rather than at the point of application, and reducing forward planning requirements to one year.
Further amendments modernise electronic lodgement processes, remove outdated administrative requirements, clarify provisions relating to land unavailable for exploration and streamline decision-making across different tenure types.
Bipartisan and industry effort
AMEC acknowledges the leadership of the Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Daniel Pastorelli, in progressing the legislation, along with the contribution of former Mines Minister David Michael.
AMEC also notes the support of Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, Opposition Mines, Petroleum and Exploration spokesperson Lachlan Hunter, and members across the WA Parliament in securing the passage of the reforms.
“This is a strong example of what can be achieved when government, opposition, and industry work constructively towards a shared outcome,” Pearce says.
Meanwhile, AMEC says it is continuing to advocate strongly for improvements to the land access framework in New South Wales.
Write to Christina Wagstaff at Mining.com.au
Main image: iStock
