Tuesday, 25 August 2026

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:29): (1433) My question is for the Minister for Energy and Resources. Minister, I refer to your gazettal of savage, extraordinary new taxes and charges on the mining and extractive industries which will jack up licence fees and costs on average about 234 per cent. The Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Association of Australia has warned that this will significantly increase quarry operating costs and the price of essential construction materials, impacting directly on housing, infrastructure and renewable energy projects. I ask: how does forcing up the price of quarried rock and consequently the cost of home construction help Victorian families to acquire their first home?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:30): I miss you, David, already. But thank you for your question. Yes, the government has for some time been undertaking a review of fees for exploration, mining and quarrying activities. This has predominantly been driven by the need to improve cost recovery for regulatory services that are provided to these sectors. As you have indicated – I think you are aware of this, Mr Davis – fees have not increased for 12 years. The fee amounts have been subject to a RIS, and lots of consultation was sought and responded to in that process. The government policy is to recover the costs of regulating the private sector to ensure regulatory services are efficient, effective and sustainable. The mining and resources sector has benefited in recent times from extensive government support. The increase is just bringing the industry up to a baseline that many regulated industries already operate under. It is government policy which I note the previous coalition government also adhered to. The previous government’s minister for resources also believed in cost recovery and had increases in their time.

I was pleased that you asked about housing –

David Davis: On a point of order, President, whilst I did have a preamble, the question itself was very direct about how these increases help Victorian families acquire their first home.

The PRESIDENT: I heard the minister say ‘housing’. I will hand over to the minister for her answer.

Jaclyn SYMES: The context is important, Mr Davis. But of course you did ask about housing, and it is always great for the Labor government to be given an opportunity to talk about housing, because contrary to the constant negativity particularly from that side of the chamber rabbiting on, we continue to be leading the nation in housing approvals, housing commencements and housing completions. We are also comfortably leading the nation in first home buyers, with almost 40,000 new loan commitments in the last year – over 10,000 more than New South Wales and over 16,000 more than Queensland. Mr Davis, we always will stand with those wanting to buy their homes, and our record speaks for itself.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:33): I notice that the minister failed to address this issue of the actual price of housing. The Minerals Council of Australia has said:

Every dollar in government fees, charges and taxes is a dollar less put into the ground in exploration, which is the lifeblood of the future Victorian minerals sector.

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies said:

These new changes go beyond and push Victoria into … the most expensive jurisdiction in Australia in which to explore and mine.

Minister, your first act in the resources portfolio has been these savage new taxes. Isn’t it a fact therefore that you are making it more expensive to mine and quarry in Victoria by new charges?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:33): Mr Davis, as I have indicated, the process to arrive at the changes to the fee structure have been many years in the making. They have been subjected to an extended period of consultation with industry, including a regulatory impact statement. This is about ensuring the sustainability of the regulatory framework, which is all very important, but it also helps to promote the industry, particularly in regional areas.