Busy week for AMCA

The Chair, Directors and Executive Officer travelled to Canberra this week in what may well be deemed in future as one of the most critical ever for some mining communities with the Senate’s consideration of the Climate Change Bill 2022.
AMCA had made a submission to the Senate Committee for Environment and Communication and had written to many relevant politicians and the Climate Change Authority.
In addition to conducting its Board meeting and its Annual General Members’ Meeting, the delegation had a very busy week.
The Directors and the Executive Officer visited Parliament House advocating on issues such as the dire need for engagement with transitioning mining communities and their local government leaders, the housing affordability crisis in some mining communities and the ongoing impacts of FIFO work practices on mining communities.
They met with;
• The Hon Kristy McBain MP Minister for Local Government, Regional Development and the Territories;
• Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Nationals Leader in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development;
• Senator the Hon Susan McDonald, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia;
• Senior Advisors to the Hon Madeleine King MP, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia.
The Chair Phil Barwick, Mayor Peter Long (Director) and the Executive Officer Gary Stevenson also briefly engaged with Minister Madeleine King.
Directors also participated in Minerals Council of Australia’s (MCA) Minerals Week including the following;
• Parliamentary Dinner at Parliament House with guest speaker the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister;
• Women in Resources National Awards;
• Minister and Shadow Minister for Resources breakfast;
• Opposition Leader the Hon Peter Dutton MP lunch;
• Various seminar sessions including one in which the Executive Officer represented AMCA as a panel member speaking about the local social implications of mining project investment decisions in the context of ESG;
• Networking with industry, media and government delegates;
The Directors and Executive Officer engaged with CEO of MCA, Tania Constable and other senior MCA officers about ongoing collaboration on important issues of common interest.
The Board also met with Australian Local Government Association CEO Matt Pinnegar and senior ALGA officers about respective roles and potential for collaboration.
The visit was highly informative and useful in developing relationships and advocating on AMCA priority issues.
However, the plea to the Senate to consider the communities to be affected most by the Climate Change Bill disappointingly fell on some deaf ears and the Bill passed.
Requests to meet with some relevant politicians were declined and, in some cases, were not even given the dignity of a reply or even an acknowledgement.
Nevertheless, AMCA will steadfastly continue to advocate on this important issue.”