Regulating the Resource Juggernaut

Resource extraction has been a driver of economic growth and development in Western Australia (WA) practically since settlement in the nineteenth century. Over time, the scale and complexity of the mining industry have grown, as has the state’s reliance on the economic contribution of the sector. Mining and petroleum currently account for over 90 % of WA’s export income. But the sector is not universally trusted: public outrage over real or perceived industry impacts on human health and environmental quality have become commonplace. Government policy-making and regulation have long been used to guard against the potential adverse impacts of extractive industry. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) have been a pre-condition for project approval and establishment for nearly three decades. But how effective is the WA regulatory regime in conserving the environment and protecting social values? Is it politically possible to regulate an industry that has become so dominant in the state’s economy? This chapter examines the effectiveness of industry regulation in Western Australia in terms of its ability to adequately address the impacts of the resource sector and to find the requisite balance between the interests of industry and social and environmental concerns.