Western Australia pushes for legislative changes to protect mining leases, after mining companies voice ‘alarm’ over potential royalty payments

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1. NewsCorp/The Australian, [Monday 30.12.24](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/wa-seeks-changes-to-native-title-act-to-protect-miners/news-story/6a9cd1c05161397ff31818b47ac1e7e4):

   *[…] It is understood WA’s Labor government wrote to Canberra asking for change as resources companies face the prospect of being forced to sign costly new native title agreements to continue operating on land subject to long-standing mining leases.*

   *On top of seeking changes to the Native Title Act, WA has moved to amend the state’s Mining Act to give companies more time to negotiate with Indigenous groups before their mining leases expire.*

   *The Australian revealed on Friday that the WA government has warned industry that lease renewals will trigger right to negotiate provisions under the Native Title Act, and that leases in place for more than 40 years will not be renewed unless companies have an agreement with native title holders or native title ­claimants.*

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   NewsCorp/The Australian, [Friday 27.12.24](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/wa-ruling-gives-traditional-owners-significant-leverage-over-the-states-mining-industry/news-story/c8ec2338c013da4054b0cccf95ef2a1d):

   *Mining companies have voiced their alarm at being required to sign new native title agreements that have increasing royalty payments to groups asserting traditional ownership over vast tracts of resources-rich Western Australia.*

   *Their concern is based on a WA government ruling that has set the scene for drawn out and fraught negotiations between traditional owner groups demanding hefty royalties and miners.*

   *[…] The WA government advice applies to mines that have operated for decades without native title agreements, and hands significant negotiating power to traditional owner groups. Some of those groups have, in talks with affected mining companies, raised the prospect of backpayment of royalties.*

   *One mining company chief executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it was like being told to negotiate with a gun pointed at your head.*

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