Environmental mining reforms pass through Northern Territory Parliament

Reforms to the Northern Territory’s environmental regulation of mining activities have passed through Parliament.

The Environmental Protection Legislation Amendment (Mining) Bill 2023 will improve the Northern Territory’s environmental management of mining activities.

The Northern Territory’s mining industry is the largest income driver, with the industry worth over $6b.

Northern Territory Environment, Climate Change and Water Security Minister Kate Worden commented on the reforms.

“The resources sector is a major employer and economic driver for the Northern Territory and will be an important factor in our future prosperity,” she said.

“Mining needs to be sustainable and ecologically viable. These reforms will give the industry more certainty around what their environmental responsibilities are.

“The new legislative framework will increase transparency and accountability of the regulator and mining operators, delivering stronger environmental outcomes in the regulation of mining activities.”

The new Bill introduces a new, best practice legislative framework for managing the environmental impacts of mining based on the risk of environmental activity.

The mining Bill:

• Introduces new three-tier risk-based licencing system to manage mining activities
• Extends existing compliance and enforcement powers under the environmental protection act
• Provides for incorporation of impacts previously managed through multiple regulatory approvals under one overarching environmental mining licence

The Northern Territory now has the most contemporary environmental framework for the management of mining and legacy mines in Australia, and the Territory will be at the forefront of ongoing innovation and developments in legacy mine remediation.

Northern Territory Mining and Industry Minister Nicole Manison says the reforms will ensure mining takes place in a sustainable way.

“These reforms ensure we have streamlined environmental assessment systems that will give greater certainty to the mining industry and streamline processes to faster approvals,” she said.

“These changes will help make the Northern Territory a more attractive place for mining investment with a modernised environmental system.

“These changes mean Territorians can have confidence that mining can take place in a sustainable way with strong environmental protections in place.”