The Western Australian state government is amending a 30-year-old law to clarify that land held under a miscellaneous licence is exempt from local government rates. These licences are typically used alongside mining or exploration tenure to facilitate infrastructure such as roads, aerodromes, pipelines, and accommodation supporting mining activities. The amendments aim to uphold the established status quo and provide certainty to both the resources sector and local governments, ensuring the protection of jobs throughout regional Western Australia.
While it has long been understood that land held under these licences is not rateable under the Local Government Act 1995, a recent Supreme Court ruling challenged this understanding, potentially creating millions of dollars in additional costs for mining and exploration companies. Local Government and Acting Mines and Petroleum Minister Hannah Beazley stated the government is moving quickly to address this issue and reinforce the legislation’s original intent.
The government’s amendments will ensure that land held under miscellaneous licenses remains exempt from local government rates. Hannah Beazley affirmed that maintaining the competitiveness of Western Australia’s world-leading mining sector is critical for the state’s economic strength and job market.
Beazley emphasised that the amendments will restore a long-understood precedent, providing certainty to local governments and resources companies. This assurance protects jobs and reinforces Western Australia’s position as a leading economy.
