Royalty administration overhaul
The Mining Amendment (Transfer of Royalty Administration) Bill 2025 has recently been passed by Parliament, transferring the responsibility for royalty collection and administration from the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) to Revenue WA (Department of Finance), effective 1 September 2025.
This centralisation under the Taxation Administration Act 2003 (WA) aims to streamline royalty processes, reduce administrative burden, and improve compliance across the mining sector. This also aligns the royalty processes with the broader state review systems already governed by the Taxation Administration Act.
While the Minister for Finance will oversee royalty administration, the Minister for Mines will retain authority over operational matters.
The existing DMPE Royalties Online system will be decommissioned on 29 August 2025 and a new portal operated by Revenue WA will launch on 1 September 2025.
Update to geocentric datum – GDA2020 to apply from October 2025
The DMPE has opened consultation on the draft Mines and Petroleum Regulations Amendment (Geocentric Datum) Regulations 2025. These will amend the Mining Regulations 1981 (WA) (and similar regulations regarding petroleum titles) to update and prescribe the geocentric datum used for the Mining Act from Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) to Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 (GDA2020).
GDA94 was Australia’s officially recognised-value standard of measurement of position from 11 April 2012. Since the implementation of the GDA94, the Australian tectonic plate has moved approximately 1.8 metres, and Australia’s coordinates must be maintained to ensure alignment with global navigation satellite systems.
To address these issues, the Australian Government implemented a new datum known as the GDA2020. The GDA2020 replaced the GDA94 as the recognised-value standard of position within Australia on 14 October 2017.
Changes to the Mining Act 1978 (WA) in 2022 disengaged the graticular grid used for exploration licences and applications from its origin, allowing it to remain constant (at GDA94) while its location on the Earth’s surface can be described using the relevant datum of the day. The datum of the day is then prescribed in the Mining Regulations. This makes it easier to update the datum in the future through regulations rather than amendments to the Mining Act.
The draft Mines and Petroleum Regulations Amendment (Geocentric Datum) Regulations 2025 provide for the update to GDA2020 and are proposed to come into effect from 6 October 2025. As a result, after close of business on Friday 3 October 2025, all applications must be made using GDA2020 coordinates.
Targeted review of Native Title and Aboriginal cultural heritage processes
In June 2025, the WA Government commenced a targeted review into Native Title and Aboriginal cultural heritage processes in the mining and exploration sector. The review is focused on improving outcomes for both Traditional Owners and industry.
Through this review the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (in partnership with the National Native Title Tribunal) is seeking to identify options to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and equity of WA’s Native Title and Aboriginal cultural heritage processes, within the context of mining and exploration.
Under its terms of reference, the review will consider the capacity of stakeholders to participate in consultation processes under current native title and Aboriginal cultural heritage legislation. It will also examine the implications of these processes for delivering social, economic and community benefits and contributing to Western Australia’s commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The review is expected to conclude in September 2025, with a final report, highlighting non-legislative reform options, due by the end of the year.