Forrest & Forrest v Wilson – consequences for mining lease applicants

20 October, 2017
As we previously reported1, a consequence of the High Court of Australia’s decision in Forrest & Forrest Pty Ltd  v Wilson2 is unexpected and unhelpful uncertainty regarding the validity of the grant of certain mining leases in Western Australia. The State Government and the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) are continuing to assess an … Read more

Increasing media attention around fraccing has in part elevated stakeholder concerns

15 April, 2013
On 29 August 2012, the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources (Environment) Regulations 2012 (WA) (Environment Regulations) commenced operation, codifying the existing requirement for all onshore petroleum activities to have an approved Environment Plan. To support the Environment Regulations, the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has also published Guidelines for the preparation of an Environment … Read more

A strange thing happened at Africa Downunder

10 September, 2012
A strange thing happened at the annual Africa Downunder conference in Perth last week, and it had nothing to do with the record attendance of more than 2,500 delegates from Australian and overseas mining companies, service providers, financiers and governments. It was the vastly different, almost conflicting, messages coming out of senior Australian government ministers … Read more