Mining Bill ‘dead and buried’ after Liberals fail to reach compromise on controversial reforms

The State Government’s controversial Mining Bill is “dead and buried” after four Liberal MPs who crossed the floor were unable to reach a deal with Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

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The State Government’s controversial Mining Bill is “dead and buried” after four Liberal MPs who crossed the floor were unable to reach a deal with Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

Senior Liberal sources told The Advertiser the Bill was “dead and buried” and “all but killed off” after Mr van Holst Pellekaan told the MPs his department was unwilling to agree to changes the Minister himself had agreed to in principle.

Mining minister Dan Von Holst Pellekaan. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

“We believe the Bill is now dead as a result,” a Liberal source said.

Liberal MPs Steve Murray, Dan Cregan, Fraser Ellis and Nick McBride crossed the floor to postpone the Bill last year citing a lack of community consultation and a lack of protection for farmers and landowners.

The Bill, which mirrors legislation proposed by the former Labor government, was put off until late February after the four MPs crossed the floor.

A Liberal MP said Cabinet had decided to shelve the Bill after a deal was unable to be brokered between Mr van Holst Pellekaan and the four MPs.

“It’s disappointing that a resolution on the Mining Bill hasn’t been reached and the Minister has become beholden to his department,” they said.

“Privately colleagues wonder how the Minister will get proper reforms in mining and energy if he’s so beholden to his department.”

Mr Ellis declined to comment on whether the Bill would return to Parliament, but said he’d continue to fight for “stronger rights” for landowners and farmers.

Liberal MPs Fraser Ellis, Steve Murray, Dan Cregan and Nick McBride in the back row, sitting with Labor MPs in State Parliament after crossing the floor to vote to adjourn the State Government's mining law changes. Picture: Adam Langenberg

He called for farmers to be given a “right to veto” when he crossed the floor, which would prevent mining companies from accessing land without the owners’ consent.

“I thank the Minister for the good faith with which he entered in negotiations for a compromise,” he told The Advertiser.

“Freehold landowners and farmers need stronger rights and we’ll continue to work with the Minister to achieve that.”

Mr van Holst Pellekaan declined to comment.

Labor mining spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said the latest development showed Mr van Holst Pellekaan was “a minister in name only”.

“Now we’ve got the department overruling the Minister,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“There are two sides here, regional MPs and inner-city MPs, and the Liberal Party is siding with those in the city.”

Grain Producers SA chief executive Caroline Rhodes said she could not comment on the development but called on an independent review of state mining laws to occur “urgently”. “This review should, among other things, thoroughly examine best practice land access frameworks in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia,” she said.