Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (15:44): In reply: I thank the members for their contributions to the debate on the Coal Mine Subsidence Compensation Amendment Bill 2024, particularly the members representing the electorates of Willoughby, South Coast, Upper Hunter, Heathcote, Wollondilly, Maitland, Newcastle, Newtown, Campbelltown and Mount Druitt. I welcome the support for the bill across the Parliament. In 2023 the statutory review of the Coal Mine Subsidence Compensation Act 2017 found that the Act was operating as intended and meeting its objective. However, additional improvements were identified. The bill will make a number of amendments to the Act, all of which are based on the statutory review. Extensive targeted and public consultations were done during the review and development of the bill, and the feedback received from industry and community stakeholders has guided the final bill.
The bill will clarify ambiguities in the Act, improve the claims determination process and expand the compensation framework to support more people who are affected by mine subsidence. For example, the amendments in the bill will allow tenants to be compensated for temporary accommodation and relocation expenses. The bill will also introduce pre-mining inspections as a requirement in some circumstances. They are an added protection for property owners and will ensure that they are compensated adequately. This will ultimately increase the efficiency of the claims processes. Additionally, the bill clarifies the role of Subsidence Advisory NSW in the claims process and ensures that the integrity and fairness of the compensation system is maintained. The bill will also provide the chief executive of Subsidence Advisory NSW with more powers to carry out works to prevent damage and, where appropriate, to buy land and demolish houses that are beyond repair. I am sure that the communities of Wollondilly and Newcastle, in particular, will welcome the Government's move to implement all the recommendations outlined in the statutory review.
I will now respond briefly to points made by my colleagues. As the member for Willoughby acknowledged, the Government has engaged with the Minerals Council of New South Wales to hear its views on the bill. Whilst I appreciate that the Minerals Council will always represent the interests of its members, the Government's bill will implement the recommendations of the statutory review and ensure that the compensation framework is fair and robust. The redrafting of the approved procedures will allow for further discussion on some issues raised by the Minerals Council, particularly around review processes. Subsidence Advisory NSW is fully committed to engaging further with the Minerals Council and the wider community during the development of those approved procedures.
The member for Upper Hunter brought up the Newcastle Mines Grouting Fund. That particular program was funded and administered by the Department of Planning and Environment and is outside the scope of this bill. The Coal Mine Subsidence Compensation Act is not designed to facilitate new housing but rather to provide a fair compensation framework for properties affected by mining. But I thank the member for Upper Hunter for his support of the bill. I acknowledge the comment of my good friend the member for Wollondilly that she will be keeping a close eye on the implementation of the provisions in the bill. I very much welcome ongoing discussions with her if there are concerns within her community. I note the member for Wollondilly intends to move amendments to the bill, and I will speak to them at the appropriate time. Whilst I acknowledge the comments made by the member for Newtown against coalmining, I note that the issues raised are outside the scope of this bill.
As I mentioned in my second reading speech, we know that coalmining can have many impacts on our communities. One of these is subsidence. The bill before the House demonstrates this Government's continued commitment to provide a fair compensation system for those affected by subsidence. I thank the members of Subsidence Advisory NSW and NSW Fair Trading who supported the development of the bill, including through consultation with various stakeholders. I thank Joseph D'Ermilio, Warren McAllister, Nicole Lewis, Georgia Mellick, Jerson Balaton, Chinyama Zuze and Kevin Cen for their work and commitment to ensure the laws governing the compensation scheme for subsidence damage are fair, efficient, and sustainable.
I also acknowledge the work of my office and thank Alicia Sylvester, my director of policy, and Ivy Tseng, my policy advisor, for their work on this important bill. I thank industry stakeholders, including the NSW Minerals Council, and the local communities of Wollondilly and Newcastle, who contributed to the statutory review and subsequent consultation on the bill. Their willingness to engage with the Government and advocate on behalf of the compensation framework is appreciated. I commend the bill to the House.
TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Jason Li): The question is that this bill be now read a second time.
Motion agreed to.
Consideration in detail requested by Mrs Judy Hannan.
