 Labor will provide co-contribution of up to $100,000 for individual drilling projects
 Industry would be given kick-start after exploration stalls under Hodgman
 Mine rehabilitation and waste removal projects to create jobs
Economically crucial, job creating mineral exploration projects would be kick-started by a re-elected Labor Government with a co-contribution scheme announced at the party’s State Conference in Queenstown today.
Labor Leader Bryan Green said while mineral exploration had stalled under the Hodgman Liberal Government, Labor was determined to get the industry back on the rails.
“Mining can, will and must play an important role in the West Coast’s future – a future that has been all but abandoned by the visionless Liberal Government,” Mr Green said.
“Over three successive Mining Ministers during the life of the Hodgman Government so far, there has been no plan for rebuilding the mining industry that is so critical for the West Coast.
“There has been no plan for rehabilitating mine sites, there has been no plan for investigating the future of mineral extraction in this state and there has been no plan to rebuild jobs lost in the mining industry.
“The Premier and his Resources Ministers past and present say Tasmania has never been in better shape but not all Tasmanians are sharing in prosperity.
“The further you travel away from Hobart, the truer that becomes.
“Labor is determined that everyone – not just a few – shares in success and for the West Coast, mining is critical to that.
“That’s why nearly two years ago Labor proposed a special mining zone for the Mt Lyell mine lease which would streamline approvals and offer royalty relief to reopen the mine.
“That’s why we have put forward an innovative plan to provide incentives for proposals that involve rehabilitating old mines and extracting minerals from old mining waste.
“And that’s why additionally – and just as importantly – today I have announced that a re-elected Labor Government would provide targeted assistance to the drilling industry in order to kick start mineral exploration, which has stalled under the current government.
“A future Labor Government will stimulate private investment with a co-contribution of up to $100,000 for high quality, technically and economically sound drilling projects.
“The West Coast and the mining industry requires a new vision – a vision that the Hodgman Liberal Government has failed miserably to provide.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader