Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Ministers statements: extractives industry

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:15): It is my pleasure to update the house on the work the government is undertaking to support the extractives industry to supply Victorian businesses and families with the affordable sand, gravel and hard rock that is needed for construction. Victoria’s population is set to reach 10 million people by 2050, requiring 1.6 million new homes, an unprecedented amount of new infrastructure such as schools and hospitals and the investments needed for a well-connected, modern transport network. Quarry operators, big and small, play an absolutely vital role in ensuring affordable and accessible material is available close to where it is needed.

The best way the government has to address the rising cost of building materials is to support the expansion of supply, and I am proud to inform the house that the government is committed to funding and delivering regulatory reform for a responsible industry to keep the cost of construction down for Victorians. This includes $2 million in funding in the recent state budget that will go towards the reform of regulation for minerals resources. Excitedly some reform is already underway. The earth resources regulator from my department is one of the first in the state to have participated in the Better Approvals for Regulators program. The program will deliver immediate work plan assessment improvements for quarry operators. The program aims to create a more efficient regulatory process and improve transparency for industry and for the community. This will get quarry materials to market in a more efficient manner while maintaining stringent environmental and safety standards.

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with key representatives from the Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia group to discuss the outcomes of the program and the important role of the extractives sector in keeping a growing Victoria affordable for all communities. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank all quarry operators, for their continued support of the Victorian construction industry, and my department regulator, for overseeing the safe extraction of Victorian materials where appropriate at a standard that is supported by the Victorian community.