Chamber Of Minerals & Energy of WA (CME)

CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA (CME)

CHAMBER OF MINERA OF WESTERN AUSTRA

ALS AND ENERGY ALIA (CME)

THE GOALS AND ROLE OF THE CME IN TODAY’S INDUSTRY The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) is the leading advocate for the resources sector in Western Australia. We are a memberfunded, not for profit organisation that represents the views and advocates the needs of our members. CME leads policy development on issues impacting the sector, promotes the value of the sector to the community, and provides an avenue through which members and stakeholders can collaborate.

Since its formation in 1901, CME has given members a unified voice, ensuring the priorities of the sector are well understood and its role as a driver of the Western Australian and national economies continues.

HISTORY In 1895, following the discovery of gold in Coolgardie, local leaseholders and representatives of the area’s gold mining companies formed the Coolgardie Chamber of Mines and Commerce to protect and advance their interests. The Kalgoorlie Chamber of Mines was inaugurated the following year, with a Perth Chamber of Mines established in 1897, consisting principally of attorneys and legal managers of gold mining companies.

In 1900, the Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie Chambers were amalgamated to provide a consolidated voice for the flourishing gold mining industry, and the Chamber of Mines of Western Australia was born.

At the first general meeting of the new Chamber on 11 March 1901, Richard Hamilton was unanimously elected as the inaugural President, a position he held until his death in 1943. At its first meeting on 18 March 1901, the Chamber’s Executive Council discussed a range of matters including, opposition to the granting of a sluicing and dredging area as recommended by the Warden, methods of mine timbering, and a recommendation that the Government supply immediately at least 250 additional rolling stock for conveyance of fuel and fresh water supplies to the mines.

CME has grown with the mining industry, particularly through the boom times of the 1960s when key minerals such as iron ore, bauxite and nickel came on line. As the industry expanded into oil, petroleum and gas, so too did CME, leading to its formal renaming as the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia Inc (CME).

Today, CME’s member companies generate 90% of all mineral and energy production and employ 80 per cent of the resources sector workforce in the State.

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS AND INVESTMENT WA’s resource sector plays a vital role in supporting and sustaining the national, state and regional economies through jobs, investment and payment of taxes, fees and charges.

In 2015-2016, a survey of 46 resource sector companies a direct financial contribution to Western Australia of $32

billion in wages and salaries, business purchases, community contributions and government payments. A further $14.6 billion was spent across the rest of Australia.

HOT TOPICS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY CME’s policy expertise spans industry and research activities, occupational safety and health, education and training, the environment, exploration, Indigenous affairs, economics, infrastructure and tax, and workforce development, CME provides stakeholders and members with an avenue for extensive collaboration on all industry matters.

We contribute to policy development

across three strategic themes; People and Communities, Economic Competitiveness and Natural Resources.

People and Communities • Safety – Enhanced focus on relevant and practical responses to high risk activities through increased sharing of safety information and addressing safety behaviour and safety leadership.

• Employment • Education and training systems responsive to emerging occupational requirements and commodity specific labour shortages by up-skilling existing personnel and providing opportunities for new entrants using industry standard facilities.

• Diversity in the workforce embraced with increased representation of women and Aboriginal Australians.

• Community – Increased knowledge and a positive understanding of the industry by community and decision makers.

Economic Competitiveness • Regulation – Regulatory frameworks which reduce approval timelines, minimise unnecessary duplication and compliance processes to improve the cost of doing business in Western Australia.

• Taxation and royalties – Transparent stable and competitive fiscal regimes across local, state and federal governments, and a greater distribution of goods and services tax returned to Western Australia.

• Infrastructure – Long term government planning which demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of industry need and expedites development and investment to enable access to cost effective fit for purpose infrastructure.

Efficient energy markets and security of supply.

• Technology and innovation – Link industry and researchers to promote adoption of new technologies including automation.

Natural Resources • Environment – Understanding of industry environmental performance and increased focus on relevant and practical responses to environmental matters.

• Exploration – Unlock natural resources potential through incentivising exploration.

• Land access – Certainty over security of land tenure and reduced conflict of land use.

While maintaining its strong record in developing and influencing public policy on issues affecting the industry, CME is also proactively engaging and expanding its stakeholder engagement via digital and social media. CME commenced its industry positioning campaign, resourc. ly, late in 2017 to create and spread positive stories around key topics about the resources sector and to ‘join the conversation’ on social media. The first phase of the campaign will focus on innovation, community, environment and wonder. Resourc.ly presents a fantastic

opportunity for the WA resources sector to tell its own story in a way that should impact and ultimately change community perceptions.

Type ‘resourc.ly’ into your internet browser to visit the blog and from there, find links to the other social media channels on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP • Representation and advocacy at regional, state and national levels with strong national links • Advice and support on industry issues and access to CME initiatives aimed at managing those issues • Opportunity to provide input into CME

advocacy and shape the collective voice of the industry • Programs providing opportunities for sharing on common issues • Events and activities providing networking opportunities with key decision makers in resource companies • Access to publications and guidelines on industry best practice, research and statistical information • Advice and support on industry issues and access to CME initiatives aimed at managing those issues • Regular information service on issues affecting the resources sector • Access to the CME Site Clearance Service (police checking service).

Oliver Moy Publisher

For enquiries email okm@aubusinesscoverage.com