Latest news with #lawreform
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
NT Corrections Minister Gerard Maley speaking about Youth Justice Act changes
NT Corrections Minister Gerard Maley says changes to the Youth Justice Act will include the reintroduction of spit hoods, which are made of a translucent netting material with a cellophane interior that blocks spit. ( ABC News )
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
New Ghana mining laws to shorten licence periods, boost community investment
ACCRA - Ghana plans to shorten mining licence durations and mandate direct revenue-sharing with local communities in its most sweeping mining law reforms in nearly two decades, details of which were announced by a government minister on Wednesday. The planned overhaul reflects a broader trend across West Africa, where governments are rewriting mining codes to capture more value from rising commodity prices. Ghanaian Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah said the changes, which include scrapping automatic renewal of some licences - will apply only to future contracts, a departure from the stance in Mali and Burkina Faso where military-led governments have applied reforms retroactively, 'In Ghana, we don't do retrospective laws,' Buah said at a presentation in the capital, Accra. 'Existing agreements are sanctified and will be respected.' He added that the overhaul of the Minerals and Mining Act and mining policy was 85% complete following extensive stakeholder consultations. DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT Ghana, Africa's top gold producer, expects output to rise to 5.1 million ounces this year. Major miners in the country include Newmont, Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti , Zijin, Asante Gold, and Perseus . It also exports bauxite and manganese with plans to start lithium production. Under the proposed law changes, prospecting licences would no longer be held indefinitely, and the maximum term for mining leases would be reduced from 30 years to a shorter period agreed by the government and firms. Companies failing to meet environmental, social or production obligations would lose the right to automatic licence renewal. In a major shift, the government plans to abolish development agreements, in which companies send money to the central government. Instead, companies will be required to sign agreements committing a fixed percentage of gross mineral sales revenue to fund local development projects as the government seeks to address long-standing grievances from communities that they have seen little benefit from mining operations. The reforms also propose a three-tier mineral rights regime, introducing a new medium-scale licence category to bridge the gap between large multinational operators and small-scale artisanal miners. Another key change under consideration is the reduction or abolition of stability agreements, which currently offer up to 15 years of tax and regulatory protection to large investors. Future agreements would be limited to capital recovery periods for major investments. (Reporting by Emmanuel Bruce and Christian Akorlie; Editing by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila, Robbie Corey-Boulet and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
New Ghana mining laws to shorten licence periods, boost community investment
ACCRA, July 23 (Reuters) - Ghana plans to shorten mining licence durations and mandate direct revenue-sharing with local communities in its most sweeping mining law reforms in nearly two decades, details of which were announced by a government minister on Wednesday. The planned overhaul reflects a broader trend across West Africa, where governments are rewriting mining codes to capture more value from rising commodity prices. Ghanaian Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah said the changes, which include scrapping automatic renewal of some licences - will apply only to future contracts, a departure from the stance in Mali and Burkina Faso where military-led governments have applied reforms retroactively, 'In Ghana, we don't do retrospective laws,' Buah said at a presentation in the capital, Accra. 'Existing agreements are sanctified and will be respected.' He added that the overhaul of the Minerals and Mining Act and mining policy was 85% complete following extensive stakeholder consultations. Ghana, Africa's top gold producer, expects output to rise to 5.1 million ounces this year. Major miners in the country include Newmont (NEM.N), opens new tab, Gold Fields (GFIJ.J), opens new tab, AngloGold Ashanti (AU.N), opens new tab, Zijin ( opens new tab, Asante Gold ( opens new tab, and Perseus ( opens new tab. It also exports bauxite and manganese with plans to start lithium production. Under the proposed law changes, prospecting licences would no longer be held indefinitely, and the maximum term for mining leases would be reduced from 30 years to a shorter period agreed by the government and firms. Companies failing to meet environmental, social or production obligations would lose the right to automatic licence renewal. In a major shift, the government plans to abolish development agreements, in which companies send money to the central government. Instead, companies will be required to sign agreements committing a fixed percentage of gross mineral sales revenue to fund local development projects as the government seeks to address long-standing grievances from communities that they have seen little benefit from mining operations. The reforms also propose a three-tier mineral rights regime, introducing a new medium-scale licence category to bridge the gap between large multinational operators and small-scale artisanal miners. Another key change under consideration is the reduction or abolition of stability agreements, which currently offer up to 15 years of tax and regulatory protection to large investors. Future agreements would be limited to capital recovery periods for major investments.
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- The Guardian
Teenager pleads guilty to murder of Vyleen White in case that sparked Queensland's ‘adult crime, adult time' laws
A teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering a grandmother in an attack that helped spark landmark law reforms. The 16-year-old boy was charged after Vyleen Joan White, 70, was fatally stabbed in a suspected carjacking outside a Redbank Plains shopping centre, west of Brisbane, in February 2024. White's death helped inspire youth justice reforms, with Queensland's Liberal National government introducing controversial 'adult crime, adult time' laws after winning the 2024 election. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Tough youth justice laws ushered in by the LNP ensure juveniles face adult sentences for more than 30 offences. Police alleged White was killed during the theft of her 2009 model Hyundai Getz hatchback. The 16-year-old was charged with murder and unlawful use of a motor vehicle plus three counts of stealing. The juvenile, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to all the charges in Brisbane supreme court on Tuesday. White's family members in court did not audibly react to the guilty pleas by the youth, who appeared on Tuesday wearing a green jumper and black pants. Prosecutor Chris Cook sought a pre-sentence report by 3 November and a 12 November sentencing. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Defence barrister Matthew Hynes agreed to the dates. Justice Lincoln Crowley remanded the teenager in custody.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
Teen admits to murder in case that sparked reform
A teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering a grandmother in an attack that helped spark landmark law reforms. The 16-year-old boy was charged after Vyleen Joan White, 70, was fatally stabbed in a suspected carjacking outside a Redbank Plains shopping centre, west of Brisbane, in February 2024. Ms White's death helped inspire youth justice reforms, with Queensland's Liberal National government introducing controversial "adult time, adult crime" laws after winning the 2024 election. Tough youth justice laws ushered in by the LNP ensure juveniles face adult sentences for more than 30 offences. Police alleged Ms White was killed during the theft of her 2009 model Hyundai Getz hatchback. The 16-year-old from the nearby suburb of Bellbird Park was charged with murder and unlawful use of a motor vehicle plus three counts of stealing. The juvenile, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to all the charges in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday. Ms White's family members in court did not audibly react to the guilty pleas by the youth who appeared on Tuesday wearing a green jumper and black pants. Prosecutor Chris Cook sought a pre-sentence report by November 3 and a November 12 sentencing. Defence barrister Matthew Hynes agreed to the dates. Justice Lincoln Crowley remanded the teen in custody.
