1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: We know that mining is something that we talk about 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: quite a bit, and the approvals processes when it comes 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: to mining is something that's been. 4 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 2: Up for discussion for quite some time. 5 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: But the territory government yesterday said that the Northern Territory 6 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: has generated four point four billion dollars in mineral production 7 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: during the last financial year. 8 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 2: That's despite COVID. 9 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: Joining me online to talk more about this from the 10 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 1: Minerals Council, the executive director, Drew Wagner, Good morning, Drew, 11 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: Good morning, Cody, good to chat with you. 12 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 2: Drew. 13 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: Four point four billion dollars in mineral production during the 14 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: last financial year. 15 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 2: How does that compare to other years? 16 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 3: It is slightly down from the previous years. The previous 17 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 3: year we saw a high of four point six. It 18 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 3: is testament to the activities and the efforts that all 19 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 3: of our operational minds have gone to, particularly in the 20 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 3: back half of that financial year with the restrictions we 21 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 3: had on our resource and our staffing movement that they're 22 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 3: able to still could keep their production systems in place. 23 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 3: But it's still up there, but not quite the highest. 24 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 3: And the continued growth through I hopeing to see if 25 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 3: we hadn't been hit by that think small thing called COVID. 26 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I reckon it's had such an impact on so 27 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: many different industries, and the mining and mineral sector is 28 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: no exception, is it. 29 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 3: It is no acception. The impact has not been as 30 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 3: we've seen in the overall production to only have dropped 31 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 3: such a small percentage and we're talking low single digits 32 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 3: here from the previous year. As I said, it is 33 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 3: testimony to the efforts that all of our operational sites 34 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 3: went to the Chief Health officers signed protocols that they 35 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 3: actually had put in place very early on, obviously in 36 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 3: the first quarter of this year, so the back half 37 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 3: of this financial year. But the ability for them to 38 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 3: continue to keep doing what they're doing, their ability to 39 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 3: keep producing as what's actually held up the NT economy 40 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 3: and put it in its current position, and we can, 41 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 3: I hope for opportunities of expansion moving forward from here. 42 00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: Well, Drew, I guess it shows as well that the 43 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: mining industry and mineral sector is you know, it's an 44 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: industry and sector that does a lot in terms of employment, exports, 45 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 1: jobs for the Northern Territory. How are things tracking more generally? 46 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: You and I have spoken on so many occasions about 47 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 1: approvals processes and times. 48 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: How are things tracking. 49 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 3: I think they're actually tracking pretty well, Katie. Know, it's 50 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 3: very difficult val sort of two thirds of the way 51 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 3: through the first one hundred days of a new government. 52 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 3: We heard certainly not a lot leading up to the 53 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 3: election in regards to where the policies are going to sit. 54 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 3: We've certainly heard a lot coming out of the Reconstruction Commission. 55 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 3: We've certainly heard a lot of the right noises being 56 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 3: made by the new government, and indeed the new Minister 57 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 3: and definitely Chief Minesson Nicole Madison now being labeled as 58 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 3: the Minister for Minds as well, which is the first 59 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 3: time in a very long time we've actually had that 60 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 3: label on a cabinet minister. We're hearing the right signals 61 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 3: and the right messages. It's now time moved past the 62 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 3: fact that the machinery of government has yet to be finished. 63 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 3: It's now time to move past the fact we've all 64 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 3: got our boots under the desk and found out what 65 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 3: our new task is. It's now that we start seeing 66 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 3: some rubber hit the road and start seeing the transition 67 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 3: from some of those concerns that you and I have 68 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: spoken of so many times in the past. 69 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,679 Speaker 1: Andrew was the industry please, So when Minister Madison was 70 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: announced as the Mind's Minister. 71 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 3: Oh, without a doubt. I mean it's obviously we had 72 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 3: a very strong and positive relationship with the honor of 73 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 3: Paul Kirby as our previous Minister for Prime Industries and Resources. 74 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 3: But to have the Deputy Chief Minister for the second 75 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 3: highest position in cabinet identified as the Minister for Minds, 76 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 3: it is just amazing her capacity and knowledge that she's 77 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: bought not only a parliamentary and cabinet process, but also 78 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 3: as Treasurer and across a number of senior portfolios in 79 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 3: the past. And we all know Nicole's excitement in regards 80 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 3: to a challenge that she's seeing very much for the 81 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 3: mineral sectors is setting for her at the moment to 82 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 3: be able to grow. He's sitting for her at the 83 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 3: moment to be able to have a growth of rural 84 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 3: and regional jobs, of skills and training and economic development 85 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 3: and good strong on ground outcomes on behalf of all territory. 86 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think it's very much a man which 87 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 3: is quite excited about. 88 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 1: Well, I've got to say, you know, obviously I can 89 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: be quite critical of the government when I feel as 90 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: though they're not stepping up in different areas, but it 91 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: does seem as though they've really kind of looked to 92 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: the mining and mineral sector. And you know, I don't know, 93 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: I don't know whether it was intentional previously, but it 94 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: seems as though they're really looking to you guys now 95 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: to drive things along well. 96 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 3: I think it is in recognition, as we mentioned earlier, 97 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 3: in regards to what we've been able to do during 98 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 3: the last the last nine months or so. It is 99 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 3: in recognition of the potential that we've currently got. As 100 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 3: I said to Mattie last week, you know, less than 101 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,919 Speaker 3: one percent of the investment profile Australia wide came to 102 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 3: the territory during the last mining boom. We can't afford 103 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 3: that to happen again. We've got a dozen or fourteen 104 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 3: projects ready to start recruiting, ready to start production, ready 105 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 3: to start growth, ready to start investment and ready to 106 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 3: start jobs. We need to take advantage of them as 107 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 3: a territory. When you can't lose sight of the fact 108 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 3: that only the last nine months it's been difficult. Our 109 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 3: economy was not in a great position for that. But 110 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 3: COVID has given us the ability to flick that switch. 111 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 3: It's given us the ability to look through a different lens. 112 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,239 Speaker 3: It's given us the ability to have a different narrative, 113 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,559 Speaker 3: and mining is certainly now being seen as the driver 114 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 3: of that narrative moving forward. 115 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: Well, Drew, it's all sounding a little bit more positive 116 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: than what it had sort of, you know, eighteen months 117 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: two years ago, which is funny, I guess, or quite 118 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: ironic given the fact that that COVID has had such 119 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: an impact on so many industries in so many ways. 120 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: But you know, it is sounding like it's going to 121 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: be a positive thing for the mining industry. Hopefully we're 122 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: going to see some more positive steps in the near future. 123 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 3: Oh with that a doubt, Katie, I think we can. 124 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 3: You and I can be classes the rhetoric that was 125 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 3: a couple of years before everyone else. As I said, 126 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 3: it's the language has changed, that the focus has changed. 127 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 3: We now just need to see some of those results started. 128 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: In their own Well, mate, I reckon that you and 129 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: I have been talking about some of this stuff. Like 130 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: two years ago. We'd reached the point where we were 131 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: over talking about it. 132 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: We were ready to see some things change. 133 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 3: It's a little bit a doubt, and it's the same 134 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 3: case studies and the same concerns and the same weights 135 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 3: and the same measures. It's going to be nice to 136 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 3: start talking about some new announcements. Will be nice to 137 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 3: start talking about some new developments. It'd certainly be nice 138 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 3: to start talking about some new operations starting up. I 139 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 3: hope that it'll come in the not too just in future. 140 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,559 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And of course, you know, whenever we talk about 141 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: these things, we know as well that there are stringent 142 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 1: environmental concerns and procedures that need to be followed through. 143 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 1: So nobody is suggesting in any way that any of 144 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: those be skipped over or not adhered to. 145 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 2: But it is about trying to get things moving along. 146 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 3: Oh, we would never wish to reduce the validity of 147 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 3: that process by one iota. The reality is that we 148 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 3: are territorians, and many of us live here ourselves, many 149 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 3: of us operate here ourselves. We're in some of we're 150 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 3: in God's country. We all know that that's why we 151 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 3: are territorians. We would never wish to have that greater 152 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 3: impacts on the location we're in, but we would always 153 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,239 Speaker 3: look for the efficiencies when in that process, we would 154 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 3: always look at what that process can do in regards 155 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 3: to even the single touch between Commonwealth and territory legislation 156 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: as well, which is something that we're working on at 157 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 3: the moment after some reviews being done at the federal levels. 158 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 3: So reducing those timeframes, providing certainly for investors, providing a 159 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 3: timeframe upon which that we can all get behind is 160 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 3: something that we're all trying to drive at this point 161 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 3: in time. 162 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. 163 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: Well, Drew Wagner of course, the executive director of the 164 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: Minerals Council of Australia's Northern Territory Division. 165 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 2: Always good to speak with you. Thanks for your time today. 166 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 3: Absolute pleasure. Thanks, thank you.