Enhancing Australia's Economic Prosperity
Resources Energy Tourism Department

Resources

The Australian Government is committed to creating a policy framework to expand Australia's resource base, increase the international competitiveness of our resources sector and improve the regulatory regime, consistent with the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources

MCMPR was established by the Council of Australian Governments in June 2001 to subsume the minerals and upstream petroleum component of the former Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council.

The Ministerial Council consists of the Commonwealth Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism and State and Territory Ministers with responsibility for minerals and petroleum. The New Zealand Minister of Energy and the Papua New Guinean Minister for Mining and the Minister for Petroleum and Energy have observer status.

MCMPR Mission Statement (Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MCMPR)

MCMPR's mission [PDF, 23KB] is to contribute to the national wellbeing by promoting the progressive and sustainable development of the Australian mining, minerals and petroleum industry. The Council's objectives include:

  • progressing constructive and compatible changes to the basic legislative and policy framework for the sustainable development of minerals and petroleum resources, including influencing the direction of climate change response measures
  • facilitating economically competitive development of the minerals and petroleum industries
  • improving coordination and, where appropriate, the consistency of policy regimes
  • encouraging new and expanded investment in competitive minerals and petroleum development opportunities
  • providing an opportunity for information and policy exchange.

The Council will deal with issues under three broad strategic priorities: Competitiveness; Sustainability; and Indigenous Reconciliation. The first two categories will address issues impacting on the mineral and petroleum sectors' operational capabilities, investment, resource processing, land access, safety and impact on the environment. The Indigenous Reconciliation category focuses on the importance of working effectively with indigenous communities, addressing indigenous disadvantages, and promoting economic independence.

The Council has also adopted a long-term, strategic vision for Australia's minerals and petroleum industries.

MCMPR Ministers meet annually with on-going issues dealt with out of session. The Ministerial Council is supported by a Standing Committee of Officials which meets one or more times during the year.

MCMPR's sister council, the Ministerial Council on Energy, was created at the same time with an agenda to further pursue energy market reform and develop and overall energy policy strategy.

For more information please contact:

MCMPR Secretariat
Department of Resources, Energy & Tourism
Tel: +61-2-6213 7527 or +61-2-6213 7476
Email: Sonya.Kumar@ret.gov.au

Meetings of the MCMPR

The following documents summarise the outcomes of the MCMPR meetings held to date.

Page Last Updated: 31/01/2011 12:39 PM