Mining

Non-renewable resources must only be extracted in a way that is environmentally responsible and protects cultural values, is consistent with First Nations self-determination, distributes the benefits to Territorians, especially Traditional Owners and affected communities, and has regard to our changing climate.

Principles

The NT Greens believe:

  1. The regulation of extractive industries must conform to the principles of open and honest government. 
  2. Decisions regarding mining activities must be transparent and public.
  3. Affected Territorians, especially Traditional Owners and affected First Nations communities, should be empowered to engage and participate in decision making throughout the life of a mining project applying the principle of free, prior and informed consent.
  4. Natural and cultural heritage must be protected from disturbances from mining. The views of Traditional Owners are paramount in the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage. 
  5. Mining industries must move towards sustainable production practices and the use of renewable and sustainable resources.
  6. The critical minerals sector, whilst important to decarbonisation efforts, must be subject to robust regulation to ensure its development respects environmental and cultural values and benefits all Territorians. Limits should be imposed on extraction to ensure sustainability of the sector for future generations. 
  7. There must be effective environmental regulation for the mining industry with significant deterrents for non-compliance with legislation, regulations and licence conditions, enforced by a well-resourced independent regulatory body.
  8. The long-term and cumulative impacts mining has on the environment, climate change and local community must be considered by decision makers when assessing new mining activities. 
  9. Mining companies must be held accountable and required to properly rehabilitate a mine after closure. 
  10. Royalties incurred by mining companies must reflect fair compensation to the community for the loss of the NT’s non-renewable resources, the environmental degradation incurred and the cultural losses associated with compromised access to Country by Traditional Owners.
  11. The benefits of mining must be equitably distributed to ensure benefit to all Territorians, particularly Traditional Owners and affected First Nations communities.

 

Aims

The NT Greens want:

 

Regulatory reform

  1. Mining laws that require:
    1. assessment of the long term and cumulative impacts of mining activities;
    2. a life of mine closure plan as part of the environmental assessment process for each mining activity; 
    3. a security bond that covers the costs of rehabilitation of mining activities for the full life of each mining operation; and
    4. mining approvals based on rigorous environmental impact assessments conducted under strong environmental protection laws.
  2. To prevent extraction in areas of high nature conservation or cultural value.
  3. To ensure new mining projects are required to use renewable energy and avoid, mitigate and (if required) offset all emissions (see NT Greens’ Climate Change policy).
  4. To ensure inactive mines (those in care and maintenance) maintain appropriate environmental standards with mining companies to justify keeping mines inactive on a long-term basis.
  5. To ensure the mineral royalty regime reflects fair compensation and at a minimum includes a floor on royalties according to value, not profit.

 

Public participation and transparency

  1. Security bond amounts, mining licences, royalty amounts and other approval documents to be publicly available and subject to genuine public consultation.
  2. A separate, independent statutory body for monitoring, enforcement and compliance with environmental conditions.
  3. Mining companies to report and publish compliance with conditions of all mine-related environmental and mining approvals.
  4. To ensure landholders and Traditional Owners have rights to object and appeal decisions that impact upon their land.
  5. To ensure third parties have objection rights through review of the merit of the project.
  6. To ensure independent scientific oversight over complex mining projects (such as those with significant environmental impacts, where there is a high degree of uncertainty around environmental risks and management or where there is a substantial extractive footprint).
  7. The economic benefits of a project should be reported on regularly and published.

First Nations engagement and protection of cultural heritage

  1. To require free, prior and informed consent of Traditional Owners to each stage of the mining process including exploration, production, decommissioning and rehabilitation, regardless of land tenure.
  2. First Nations people to be informed at every stage of the mining process, be empowered to engage in these processes and have their views taken into account in decision making.
  3. To protect natural and cultural heritage through stronger sacred sites protection, including requiring an authority certificate concerning the management and protection of sacred sites before a licence is granted and comprehensive cultural heritage protection plans.