Member Info for schlemiel

No need for praise fellas. Call it a public service. As long as the decent investor benefits

nm

This is the relevant part for Newcrest and it's positive -

''Workers employed in relation to mineral exploration and mining activities will be exempt from the regional, intrastate travel restrictions and will be permitted to travel within Western Australia “for employment purposes”. Please see map here.

Individuals who are classed as “essential” (including mining and exploration workers) must carry the following documents with them when crossing regional borders:

a company letter – this letter must set out the details of the individual, that they are an essential worker, the regions they must travel from/to/through and a contact phone number for the company that the WA police may use to verify any details at the check point;
photo ID (e.g. a drivers licence); and
a health declaration – a written, signed declaration which states the individual has not travelled overseas in the past 14 days, has displayed no symptoms of COVID-19, has not been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is not required by the State or Federal Government to be in isolation.

The individual should also be in uniform.''

end

Apologies for posting such a lengthy document. I should have cut-pasted the relevant parts concerning exploration in WA.

my opinion is that exploration can continue within WA (intra-state) though supplies (FIFO and materials) inter-state need to be managed

3.3 Aboriginal regional community restrictions
The Federal and State Governments have jointly imposed further restrictions on travel to the Kimberly and remote Aboriginal communities.

Access is restricted in the following regions:

Kimberley (comprising all four local government areas);
Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku;
Parts of the Shire of East Pilbara that encompass the communities of Jigalong, Martu homeland communities and Kiwirrkurra.
There are exemptions for travel for the delivery of essential services, medical, cultural or family reasons. There are no exemptions for mining or exploration. Travel is not permitted to or through these Aboriginal communities.

4. Restrictions on travelling to and from Aboriginal land and communities
Mining industry workers may also be subject to restrictions on land subject to native title determinations

We note that some Aboriginal organisations have sent out information detailing further restrictions they have implemented in respect of COVID-19. For example, some Aboriginal organisations have notified proponents that they will be implementing a permit system to restrict travel across roads subject to native title determinations.

We note that as of the date of publication, none of these restrictions have been made publicly available.

We recommend that this is something you keep on your radar and are aware of when considering COVID related travel restrictions, as we expect that more Aboriginal organisations will follow suit in the coming days and weeks.

end

3.2 Commonwealth imposed biosecurity restrictions
On Thursday 26 March, the Federal Government imposed restrictions on travel into designated areas in Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia. The area these restrictions apply to are shown in the map here.

Breaching these restrictions is a criminal offence and could lead to a maximum imprisonment of 5 years or fine of $63,000.

The direction issued by the Federal Government contains an exemption for mining activity but not for mineral exploration. Mining is included within the definition of essential services.

The State Government has determined that this exemption does not extend to mineral exploration. Mineral exploration can still continue in regions of Western Australia which are not covered by these Directions. However, it is understood that the directions cover 90% of the State’s remote regional Aboriginal communities.

We note that in the case on any inconsistencies between the restrictions placed by the State Government and the Federal Government, the Federal Government restrictions will prevail.

Intrastate travel
There are three clear legislated “layers” of restrictions imposed on intrastate travel within Western Australia. The three layers are discussed below.

3.1 State imposed regional restrictions
On Tuesday, 31 March, the State Government will introduce further measures to restrict intrastate travel within Western Australia. Intrastate travel is defined as “movement through the boundaries of the regions of Western Australia”. Western Australians will not be permitted to leave their regional boundaries.
The restrictions will be strictly enforced and the WA police will have the power to issue fines of up to $50,000.
The “regions” are defined as:

Perth and Peel (due to their close proximity, the Perth and Peel regions will combine into one region);
South West;
Great Southern;
Goldfields-Esperance;
Mid-West;
Wheatbelt;
Gascoyne;
Pilbara; and
Kimberley.

Workers employed in relation to mineral exploration and mining activities will be exempt from the regional, intrastate travel restrictions and will be permitted to travel within Western Australia “for employment purposes”. Please see map here.

Individuals who are classed as “essential” (including mining and exploration workers) must carry the following documents with them when crossing regional borders:

a company letter – this letter must set out the details of the individual, that they are an essential worker, the regions they must travel from/to/through and a contact phone number for the company that the WA police may use to verify any details at the check point;
photo ID (e.g. a drivers licence); and
a health declaration – a written, signed declaration which states the individual has not travelled overseas in the past 14 days, has displayed no symptoms of COVID-19, has not been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is not required by the State or Federal Government to be in isolation.

FIFO charter flights must have physical distancing on all planes; and
industry representatives will work with resources companies to undertake a “needs analysis” and, if necessary, resources companies will need to adjust shift rosters to ensure minimum number of FIFO charter flights into the state.

cont........

2. Interstate travel
Mining industry workers are currently exempt from interstate travel restrictions – however this is expected to change in the coming days

On Tuesday, 24 March, the State Government implemented new restrictions and arrival requirements on travel into Western Australia from other Australian states and territories by road, rail, air and sea, in response to COVID-19. Western Australians are no longer allowed to travel overseas unless they fulfil the limited exemption requirements.

As at 30 March, mining industry workforce are exempt from these restrictions.

However, the State Government is currently preparing measures to restrict all interstate travel into Western Australia. This restriction will extend to all FIFO workers residing interstate. If this exemption is removed, all interstate employees will need to undertake 14 days quarantine in Western Australia before travelling to mine sites in Western Australia. Therefore, we recommend that you take immediate action so that all essential workforce is moved to WA as soon as possible.

South Australian and Queensland are also preparing to implement further restrictions and it appears that all Australian domestic travel will soon be banned. Immediate action, planning and preparation is advised.

As the restrictions currently stand (at 30 March), resource sector projects will be allowed to continue to rotate essential FIFO personnel from other Australian States through to operational sites, transiting through Perth airport where required (based on strict guidelines and protocols). As stated above, this is expected to change in the coming days. Action should be taken to prepare immediately. The guidelines currently advise that:

FIFO personnel will be allowed to enter and depart on dedicated charter aircraft, where charters are possible, that leaves from Australian Capital Cities or major regional centres and arrive at specific mine sites, oil and gas facilities and regional airports (including public airports), with transit through Perth where required. Where charter flights are not possible, arrival to site via commercial flights will be required but will be under strict protocols enacted by the companies (e.g. pre-boarding testing);
all interstate FIFO personnel must go through stringent check in procedures before boarding aircraft. For example, questionnaires, employer declarations and temperature checks;
dedicated FIFO flights will not allow passengers to travel on the aircraft unless they meet the definition of essential or critical resources sector workers. These flights will be exclusively for interstate FIFO workers. Segregation of FIFO passengers from the public will be maintained at airports to the extent possible, in liaison with airport operators;

cont.......

(iv) (potentially) self-imposed restrictions by native title holders (we are aware that some Aboriginal representative bodies have imposed their own restrictions on lands subject to native title determinations).

We note that in the case on any inconsistencies between the restrictions placed by the State Government and the Federal Government, the Federal Government restrictions will prevail.

This situation is constantly changing. For current, project specific advice – please contact Marshall McKenna.

cont........

https://www.gtlaw.com.au/insights/covid-19-restrictions-movement-updates-mining-rapidly-changing-situation

COVID-19: Restrictions on movement – updates for mining on a rapidly changing situation

30/03/2020
The Minerals Council of Australia Chief Executive Tania Constable has stated that continuing the movement of essential operational staff was crucial in keeping the mining industry active as the nation faces economic shocks fanned by the coronavirus spread. The Federal Resources Minister, Keith Pitt has echoed this sentiment, stating that “Ministers recognise the resources sector is essential to Australia’s economy. The maintenance of resources sector operations, in parallel to the implementation of new health measures, is a key priority” and recognised that the resources industry would “play a lead role in our economic recovery”, with “the jobs it creates” acting as a “lifeline to many regional communities”.

Yet despite these statements, the restrictions on interstate and intrastate movements are constantly changing and rapidly increasing each day. To assist you in managing the movements of your workers, we have collated the following snapshot outlining the travel restrictions currently in place and the potential restrictions your company may need to be aware of when navigating workforce movements to and from site.

This information is current at Tuesday 31 March 2020. We expect that further State Government restrictions prohibiting interstate FIFO travel will be announced in the next few days.

For more up to date information and specific advice, please contact Marshall McKenna.

1. Summary
(a) Interstate

While Western Australia’s borders are currently closed to all international and interstate travel, workers employed by the mining industry are currently exempt to those restrictions. However, this exemption will very likely soon be removed. Very shortly, we expect that the State Government will announce that no interstate workers employed by the mining industry will be allowed to enter Western Australia without first quarantining for 14 days.

We advise all companies with interstate workers to move essential workers into WA immediately before this exemption is removed.

(b) Intrastate travel within Western Australia

There are currently several “layers” of restrictions on “intrastate” travel within WA. These are:

(i) State imposed regional restrictions (exemption for workers employed in the mining industry);

(ii) Commonwealth imposed regional restrictions (exemption for workers employed in the mining industry – however, this does not extend to workers in employed in mineral exploration);

(iii) Regional Aboriginal community restriction (all access to regional Aboriginal communities has been restricted – including for mining and mineral exploration workers); and

cont........

oh no....wrong date!...SORRY :(

https://hotcopper.com.au/threads/ann-exploration-guidance-update-11-march-2020.5276089/

BOOM!!!

updates

More so, the WA economy which contains around 50% of all the mines in Australia. The WAG cannot afford a shutdown of its most vital of tax contributors and sources of direct and indirect employment

Biswas does need an injection of high grade, low cost productivity from somewhere

https://www.sharecafe.com.au/2020/03/30/gold-stocks-a-beacon-in-the-dark/

'On the other hand, UBS retains a Sell rating for Newcrest as the stock is trading at a 10% premium to revised valuation and pricing in a US$1600/oz long-term gold price. Production and earnings are also set to peak in FY20 because of great declines at Cadia. Moreover, issues at Lihir may be ongoing as this is a large but difficult ore body to mine.'

CJ01 - Idiot. Filtered

https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/covid-19-coronavirus-state-of-emergency-declarations

Exemptions

Unless exempted, arrivals from interstate will be ordered to self-isolate for 14 days.
Exemptions will apply to essential services and essential workers, including health and emergency services, defence and policing, *mining industry workforces*, flight crews and freight of essential goods, via ports and trucks – with strict guidelines in place to monitor and manage this.

cont.....

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https://www.seek.com.au/drill-rig-fitter-jobs?sortmode=ListedDate

drilling companies still advertising for drillers and other tasks for WA located assets