Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council Annual Report 2013 /14 Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council Annual Report 2014 -i- The Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council aims to be the organisation recognised for leadership, effective issues management and cooperative action for the State’s minerals and energy industry. Our mission is to promote the development of a safe, profitable and sustainable minerals and energy sector, which operates within community standards. ACN: 009 554 616 Telephone: (03) 6223 8600 Email: [email protected] Website: www.tasmanianmining.com.au -ii- Contents President’s Report 1 Board and staff changes 2 TMEC Campaign – Big Picture 3 Energy Report – Ray Mostogl 5 Land Access Report – Kim Denwer 6 OHS Report – Terry Long 8 2014 Tasmanian Minerals Business Forum 14 2014 Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Conference 15 2014 Tasmanian Minerals Emergency Response Competition 17 Tasmanian Devil Industry Workshop 25 The Devil Becomes a Legal Stooge by Ian Woodward 26 Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival: 10 – 12 October 2014 27 Article: Terry Long profile 28 Article: Matt Daly profile 29 Article: Kathy George - winner of the National Women in Resources Outstanding Australian Tradeswomen/ Operator/ Technician Award 31 Article: Craig Reid profile 32 TMEC Members survey and TMEC website 33 2014 Financials 34 Board of Directors 39 List of Members 43 President’s Report However, there has been in the public quite a deal of it. The State needs to debate in Tasmania the idea floated that come to a position on whether we will our big industries are somehow part use our energy to promote enterprise of a distant past and in the future our and create or maintain employment in economy and all of the employment our own State, or whether we will export we need will be provided by niche it and by default create employment businesses and tourism. And while elsewhere. We have been in the thick these things are useful in a mixed of the government processes which are Wayne Bould, President economy, of themselves they don’t cut looking at energy policy matters and are the mustard. For example, tourism is putting a strong case. Sometimes when reflecting upon a year seasonal. Niche enterprises do not for an annual report, goodness and generate much employment. Our main public events – the Business light jumps out at you – what’s been Forum in Launceston and the achieved. So at a Board meeting at Rosebery last Tasmanian Minerals Conference which year, your Directors decided to try to was held in Hobart in May this year – However, this year under review set the record straight – we need our were successful. Again, it’s a matter of (2013/14) is always going to be big businesses and we always will. And putting “out there” the things which are counter-balanced by loss and personal so was born what became known as important to our businesses and in turn suffering – three people were killed in the Big Picture campaign, which is also our employees for the long haul. This two separate incidents at Mt Lyell and covered in more detail elsewhere in this year we looked at the energy question, the consequences for their families report. along with economic and environmental and relatives are long-lasting. Closed matters. for months while the formal inquiries Unfortunately, we also live in a society into these deaths took place, there riven by competing but ultimately It was also the year for a change of was another rockfall in an air vent shaft contradictory philosophies – the idea government – Will Hodgman’s Liberal which foreclosed any medium term that we need sustainable development, Party was elected outright in March chance of Mt Lyell going back into versus the idea that we have too 2014. We will continue to work with production. The details of these sad much development now and should government on policy initiatives or events are covered elsewhere in this wind back existing enterprise. These regulatory or legislative areas which report. competing ideas have had a big impact concern us. Working with governments on our industry. It has manifested in is the best approach. Taking them In the meantime, the range of policy and north-west Tasmania, in the Tarkine. on, although sometimes necessary, is public initiatives your Board undertook Some diehard anti-enterprise people always a least-preferred position. rolled onwards. Chief among them was have taken to the Federal Court system During the year, your Directors have a campaign which came to be known to try to stop or delay for long periods been thoughtful on which policy areas as the Big Picture. You will have seen projects which have been already to address and relentless in their on your television employees at some of approved by the Federal and Tasmanian prosecution. I thank them for their time Tasmania’s bigger industries explaining Governments. It has impacted heavily and endeavours. what they do, and why they do it. You on these companies and at the time of would not think our big industries would writing was still unresolved. There is My thanks to the staff at the secretariat need to explain themselves – they have more on this in the land access report in in Hobart and we note that both Terry been producing goods for export for these pages. Long and Jayne Roberts left our employ decades, generating thousands of jobs at the end of our financial year – Terry and the cash flow which maintains You may have noticed that there has to retire and Jayne to pursue other vibrancy in regional communities been significant public discussion about interests in Sydney. My thanks to both and towns and the basic grunt which energy and energy policy in Tasmania for their contributions over many years. underpins an economy. in the past twelve months. We initiated -1- Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council Annual Report 2014 Staffing/ Board Changes Terry Long Jeremy Kouw Wayne Bould Ray Mostogl While outside the formal reporting period of this report (2013/14) for clarity we will reiterate changes in office bearers for the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council – • Terry Long retired as CEO at the end of August 2014. • Jeremy Kouw acted as interim CEO until taking up a position with Dyno Nobel in Queensland in mid-September. • From mid-September, the President Wayne Bould took over as CEO and stood down as President. • At the same time, Ray Mostogl was elected President by his fellow Directors. Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council Annual Report 2014 -2- -3- Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council Annual Report 2014 TMEC Campaign - Big Picture Take A Look at The Big Picture! The Big Picture Tasmania group of Tasmania’s major industries are industries includes six of Tasmania’s also crucial to other key Tasmanian major employers Nyrstar Hobart, economic sectors including small and Norske Skog Boyer Mill, Bell Bay medium business, tourism, education Aluminium, Grange Resources, MMG and hospitality. Rosebery and the Elphinstone Group. The campaign features employees The multi-media campaign launched in from each major partner sharing their November 2013 with inaugural partners, proud and passionate stories with the Bell Bay Aluminium, Nyrstar, Norske Tasmanian community. The campaign Skog Boyer and Grange Resources. is a really positive approach designed Since its launch, the campaign has to remind Tasmanians of the ongoing gone from strength to strength with new contribution primary industries such as major partners MMG Limited and the ours make to the state’s economic and Elphinstone Group joining supporting social well-being. partners, Veolia Environmental Services, Nubco, Cromarty Instrument & Electrical www.bigpicturetas.com.au Engineering and Lloyds North uniting Ray Mostogl under the industry voice. With just under 10% of Tasmanians employed by businesses that generate actual wealth, major industry is vital to maintaining Tasmania’s prosperity. Tasmanians continue to benefit from the Big Picture Tasmania group’s work through the creation of direct employment, the millions of dollars paid in salaries each year to employees, and goods and services purchased locally each year. The Big Picture partners believe it is critical Tasmania establishes a business environment where industry can be supported to invest in growth, jobs and importantly be viable to support future generations of Tasmanians. Rod Bender, Michael Bailey and Tom Black Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council Annual Report 2014 -4- Energy Report Advocacy in the areas of energy pricing and Upper House Members earlier in 2014. and climate change policies have Some of these messages are resonating remained as significant activity for the in the current debate on the Renewable Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council. Energy Target discussions. Members will note that during the Recently MMG and Elphinstone Group year, the Board wound up our previous signed up to the campaign and are now vehicle for energy advocacy – the Major active members. Employers Group – and brought all Ray Mostogl, Chair of the Energy matters related to energy directly under Taking the challenge of crippling electricity Comittee the Board’s area of operations. prices to the State Government has also been a big focus this year. The TMEC We formed a new energy committee and commissioned an insightful analysis of invited to membership all members of the how the Government Business Enterprise former Major Employers Group. behind the biggest price increases went about their business. Given Mining and Manufacturing contribute $2.5 billion to Tasmania’s The TMEC have actively lobbied the Gross State Product each year, the Australian Energy Regulator and we barriers which impact viability warrant take some comfort from the recent active engagement by your Board. This announcement to establish a Federal year has seen that occur on a number of Senate enquiry into aspects of the fronts.