Department of Mines and Petroleum
Former government department of Western Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Department of Mines and Petroleum was a department of the Government of Western Australia until it was superseded by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety on 1 July 2017.[2] The department was formed on 1 January 2009, out of the former Department of Industry & Resources and Department of Consumer & Employment Protection, which were split into three new departments, the Department of Mines & Petroleum, the Department of State Development and the Department of Commerce.[3]
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 January 2009 |
| Preceding agencies | |
| Dissolved | 1 July 2017 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Western Australia |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | www |
Its focus is the resources sector, maintaining a mining and petroleum regulatory role and incorporating the resources safety responsibilities from the former Department of Consumer & Employment Protection. It also oversees the Geological Survey of Western Australia.[3]
The department operates the Mindex website, a continuously updated database containing information on mines, mineral deposits and prospects in Western Australia.[4]
Earlier history
The original Department of Mines was created on 1 January 1894 and ceased in that name on 1 July 1992 when it became the Department of Minerals and Energy.[5][6]
During the 1894 - 1992 era, the department was originally divided into branches:
- Registration
- Accounts Correspondence
- Drafting
- Government Geologist (1896 was known as the Geological Survey Branch.[7]
Before the change of 1992, the branches had become divisions:
2000s
On 1 July 2001 Department of Minerals and Energy and the Department of Resources Development were merged to form the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.[12]
Further to a review in 2003 the Department was merged with the Department of Industry and Technology to form the Department of Industry and Resources on 3 February 2003.
This department was divided into business groups:
- Mineral and Petroleum Resources
- Business and Trade Services
- Investment Services
The Department was changed again on 1 January 2009[13] and three new departments were formed:
- Department of Mines and Petroleum
- Department of State Development
- Department of Commerce (which included the Science and Innovation functions of the Department of Industry and Resources)