Jeweller - September 2021

OPINION
Soapbox
Regulation is stifling Australia’s
artisanal gemstone miners
An avalanche of bureaucracy and rising costs are burying small-scale mining
businesses and crushing a vibrant industry’s potential, writes LILO STADLER.
Australia’s gemstone mining industry
– ranging from our unique opal to
parti-colour sapphire, chrysoprase and
emerald – is largely made up of smallscale
miners, many of which are either
sole traders or family businesses.
Sadly, their job is becoming more and more
difficult because of the government.
Both levels of government – state and
federal – treat small mining operations like
the ‘big boys’ of oil, gas and minerals; they
have the same expectations of them and
bury them under endless regulations.
It’s unfair and it’s wrong, as it has major
consequences not only for the miners
themselves but also for the rest of the
supply chain.
In the course of my business, I’ve
encountered many miners who have
developed an ‘us and them’ attitude; they
are hostile to and suspicious of any extra
paperwork or conditions the wholesaler
might legally require, thus making our job
more onerous too.
They are drowning in regulations already,
and I feel sorry for them because it’s an
awful position in which to be.
When it comes to the mining paperwork
itself, I’ve seen first-hand how difficult it
can be to understand and complete.
My son has a university education and is a
miner himself, and he is reluctant to give
help or advice to others because of the
complexities involved.
How are people supposed to deal with
government bodies who are making their
lives a misery, whilst paying through the
nose for the privilege?
The over-regulation is appalling and over
the past 20 years that has quadrupled;
the cost for miners to register a claim has
risen four or five times in 10 years.
That is extraordinary.
In NSW, the cost of a standard mineral
claim starts at more than $1,000, renewals
start at more than $350, and opal
prospecting licences are charged on top of
that – a minimum of $589.
For larger claims of two hectares, the fees
can be as high as $6,300.
As I said previously, many mining
operations – particularly those mining
for opals – are sole traders or family
businesses; this type of regulation is a
burden and it’s unnecessary.
You can spend hours simply trying to read
the paperwork, let alone fill it out.
The NSW Opal and Gemstone Mining Guide
alone is more than 230 pages long.
In Queensland, many are transitioning
from leases to a small miners claim
system. However there are still as many
as seven layers of costs, including rent,
Indigenous and landholder compensation,
council rates, environmental authority
fees, and camp and mining security bonds.
You may even need the Land Court involved
to have a mining claim approved.
How can the ordinary person with a small
claim, or a person who speaks English
as a second language, be expected to
handle that?
Even worse, the regulations change
state-to-state, so if you are operating in
more than one state you are expected to
abide by separate regulations, paperwork,
and fee structures.
The overregulation
is
appalling and
over the past 20
years that has
quadrupled; the
cost for miners
to register a
claim has risen
four or five
times in
10 years
Is it possible to solve this problem?
Unfortunately, as an industry, we have
very little say in the political process.
Broadly, there are very few industry
associations with the money or staff to
lobby politicians or promote these issues
through the media.
Large oil or gas mining companies have
teams of staff and separate budgets
dedicated to this type of thing, but
artisanal mining doesn’t have the same
resources. Even if you were to speak to
a politician about these problems, they
would get a glazed look in their eye!
Opal is our national gemstone and should
be treated as such, yet politicians seem to
disregard it – and the people who produce
it. When was the last time you saw an
Australian politician wearing an opal?
But they should care; our opals are a
reliable, high-value export commodity
and are much sought-after overseas,
with markets willing to pay a premium
for our product.
Ditto Australian sapphires which have also
become incredibly popular in recent years,
both with local consumers and overseas.
If politicians truly care about the industry
they should show a will to guarantee that
it thrives now and into the future.
That means ensuring artisanal gemstone
mining is considered a special category
and is, therefore, regulated separately and
appropriately.
Name: Lilo Stadler
Business: Bolda
Position: Director
Location: Noosa Heads, Queensland
Years in the industry: 45
82 | September 2021