Mineral Resources accused of political posturing in port levy fight
The West Australian government has accused Mineral Resources boss Chris Ellison of political posturing in a court fight over million of dollars in unpaid port levies set to flow to energy giant Chevron.
The state-run Pilbara Ports Authority has engaged high-profile barrister Bret Walker in a Supreme Court fight to recover more than $5 million in unpaid levies on iron ore exports from the Port of Ashburton.
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AU Financial Review
5 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Mineral Resources accused of political posturing in port levy fight
The West Australian government has accused Mineral Resources boss Chris Ellison of political posturing in a court fight over million of dollars in unpaid port levies set to flow to energy giant Chevron. The state-run Pilbara Ports Authority has engaged high-profile barrister Bret Walker in a Supreme Court fight to recover more than $5 million in unpaid levies on iron ore exports from the Port of Ashburton.
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Just not on': Crimfluencer crackdown
The West Australian government will this week become the latest state to introduce new 'post and boast' laws aimed at punishing those who post illegal acts on social media. The Cook government announced on Tuesday legislation criminalising social media posts of illegal activity, with posts aimed at 'enhancing offenders' notoriety and humiliating victims' to be outlawed. The move makes Western Australia the fifth state to implement such laws following NSW, Victoria, Northern Territory and Queensland. Tasmania and South Australia have also committed to rolling out similar measures. The new laws will impose penalties of up to three years' jail for offenders and give West Australian courts the power to order the removal of offending material, with failure to do so punishable by up to 12 months' prison and a $12,000 fine. The punishments are the toughest among the states who have introduced similar laws, with most states imposing penalties of up to two years jail for offenders. Offences covered by the legislation include: • Assaults • Stealing and robbery • Property damage • Dangerous or reckless driving • Racial harassment and inciting racial hatred • Nazi symbols and salutes. Attorney-General Tony Buti said the laws sent 'a clear message' to those seeking to glorify criminal behaviour that posting these videos on social media was 'just not on, and there will be consequences'. 'Glorifying criminal behaviour on social media is simply not good enough, and these new laws will crack down on it,' he said. 'Community safety is a priority for this government, this includes ensuring people feel safe when online and protecting victim-survivors from retraumatisation.' The legislation will also apply to those who share illegal material, although sharing the material for purposes like journalism, complaining or warning about criminal conduct or 'genuine artistic or satirical purposes' will not be penalised. WA Premier Roger Cook has joined other states in criminalising social media posts of illegal activity. NewsWire/Philip Gostelow Credit: NewsWire Police Minister Reece Whitby said 'people trying to glamorise criminal or anti-social exploits on social media pose an unacceptable risk to community safety by encouraging imitators'. 'Western Australia will impose the highest maximum penalty among all the states that have introduced similar legislation. 'Importantly, the laws will compel offenders to take down posts and penalise those who choose to share them online.' The introduction of the laws across Australia have not been free of criticism. University of Queensland associate professor Renee Zahnow said there was a lack of empirical evidence that the laws prohibited criminal acts. 'If the aim is to address infamy and copycats, then it will not necessarily have any impact because most of the CCTV and video footage posted online and then shared and replayed continuously by media outlets does not originate from perpetrators but instead from members of the public,' Professor Zahnow told AAP.
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Pilot, Triangle lock in Cliff Head transfer for carbon capture play
Pilot Energy has locked in the purchase of the West Australian-based Cliff Head oil facility from former joint venture partner Triangle Energy and will repurpose the asset as a carbon capture and storage facility within its Mid West Clean Energy project. Triangle's remaining 78.75 per cent interest in the Cliff Head oil field within the Perth Basin, held under the current JV, has been transferred to Pilot in exchange for a secured $5.563 million promissory note. The previously announced revised terms of the sale allowed for Pilot's existing debt to Triangle to be converted via the secured note. It matures on September 30, 2026. Interest will accrue from June 30 at 10 per cent and will be capitalised to maturity. Ownership of all onshore and offshore assets falling within WA state jurisdiction has been transferred to Pilot. The assets include onshore processing facilities, the Arrowsmith production plant, Arrowsmith freehold land, infrastructure licences and offshore pipelines within state waters. The pipelines extend 16 kilometres to an offshore platform, with the first 12km estimated to fall within WA waters. The remaining 4km of pipelines are in Commonwealth jurisdiction. Pilot will ask to transfer the project via the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator. The company plans to soon lodge the relevant paperwork with the administrator. Triangle stands to receive a considerable boost to its cash position from the sale. In addition to the secured note funds due next year, the company will receive a one-off $167,000 payment on August 31 this year in recognition of the deferred interest accrual under the secured note. It will receive a further $4.5 million when Pilot receives a greenhouse gas injection licence and up to a further $7.5 million in royalties from the project. Pilot is also looking to sell its Three Springs solar project, also in WA's Mid West region. If that occurs, Pilot has agreed to pay Triangle 30 per cent of the sale proceeds towards its secured debt. Triangle will continue to hold full security over Pilot and its subsidiary company Royal Energy until the debt is repaid in full. Pilot Energy is now champing at the bit to bring in an elite group of investors interested in agreeing on a joint venture to develop and operate the Mid West Clean Energy project. Pilot has a state-owned enterprise (SOE), experienced with carbon storage and capture, locked and loaded to help develop the project. A consortium of South Korean mega-energy firms led by Korea Southern Power Co is also looking to link up with Pilot and acquire a 60 per cent interest to jointly develop the Mid West project to secure a supply of ammonia. The ammonia will be used for hydrogen cofiring in coal-fired power plants in Korea. The Korean Southern Power Co is one of six State-owned power companies and the nation's largest electric utility group. It plans to burn a mix of 20 per cent ammonia and 80 per cent coal at the company's large Samcheok 2044-megawatt thermal power plant in the eastern Korean province of Gangwon-Do, about 120 kilometres from the capital city of Seoul. The consortium comprises Korea Southern Power Co, Korea East-West Power, Samsung C&T and hydrogen producer Approtium. The company plans to repurpose the depleted Cliff Head oil well into a facility capable of storing liquified carbon emissions from WA's industrial emitters. Pilot will create a carbon storage business, charging third-party emitters, to add to its clean energy ammonia project arsenal. Pilot also plans to supply blue and eventually green hydrogen into WA's energy grid, positioning itself as a major supplier as the State looks to cut emissions and help develop sources of cleaner electricity. As Cliff Head swaps hands, both Pilot and Triangle appear to have emerged as winners. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
