Mines safety inspection levy

The new levy rate for the next financial year is calculated by dividing the forecast total cost to be recovered to fund regulatory activities by the forecast industry hours worked.

Note: The cost to be recovered takes into account the forecast balance of a special purpose account at the end of the current financial year.

Costs associated with regulatory activities includes items such as:

• salaries and superannuation
• training and development
• supplies and services
• office accommodation
• depreciation
• corporate costs.

To ensure levy funds are used only for paying costs associated with administering the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, the monies collected through the Levy Regulations are held in the special purpose account established under the Financial Management Act 2006.

All mining operations, including exploration, regulated by the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 are required to pay the levy if the quarterly total of hours worked is more than 5,000 hours.

The principal employer, who, in relation to a mine, is the employer who is the proprietor, lessee, or occupier of the mine and who has overall control and supervision of the mine, mining operations at the mine, and the manager of the mine.

Mining and exploration operations supply quarterly data on levy hours worked using the Department’s online Safety Regulation System (SRS).

The principal employer is responsible for timely submission of levy information (by the 15th day after the end of the quarter).

This depends on the nature of their visit. Visitors (e.g. CEO or OHS officer working in head office who visits to inspect operation) are included in levy hours if they are being paid for the purpose of performing work in the course of mining operations.

Visitors on tour or an investor coming for an appointment are not included as they are not working for remuneration or performing work in the course of mining operations. They are not considered to be a “worker” under the Levy Regulations.

No. Only time spent working on site is to be reported for levy hours. For example, items such as sick leave, annual leave, off-site training and on-site rostered days off (RDOs) are excluded.

The principal employer for each mining or exploration operation is liable to pay the levy and is responsible for any commercial arrangements with its contractors.

Yes. Regardless of size, mines and quarries are defined by activity and not by lease type. Mines or quarries on private land that sell a product are subject to the levy.

No. While separate advice should be sought as each case can vary, levy hours do not need to be included for time spent within an area operating under the Rail Safety Act 2010.

No. Port Authorities established under the Port Authorities Act 1999 do not pay the levy.

If a Port Authority leases a site within its boundary to a mining company, where the Port Authority maintains management and control of the site, equipment and infrastructure, the site is not considered a mining operation and the Principal Employer (mine operator) of the mine is not required to pay the levy.

If a Port Authority leases a site within its boundary to a mining company, and the mine operator is the PCBU with management and control of the leased site, equipment and infrastructure, the site is considered a mining operation and the principal employer (mine operator) is required to pay the levy.

Yes. “Mining operation” is defined in section 4(1) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and includes developmental and construction work associated with opening up or operating a mine.

The levy is calculated for each exploration company regardless of how many tenements are being explored. The total number of hours worked by workers at exploration operations must be submitted to the Department by the Principal Employer. The total levy hours does not include hours worked by staff at offices, laboratories or yards that are not on the exploration sites.

No.

Each Principal Employer submits quarterly data on worker hours, using SRS.

The levy hours are totalled at the end of each quarter. If more than 5,000 hours have been worked in the quarter, the total hours are multiplied by the current hourly levy rate to arrive at the amount payable for that operation.

No.

Yes. New mining operations commencing during the quarter will be required to report worker hours from the time that the mining tenure or exploration permit is granted.

Yes. Operations that cease part way through a quarter will still be assessed for the levy for the period during which they were operating.

Written proof must be provided if operations ceased due to administration or receivership. The Department will then determine an appropriate course of action.

Using SRS, principal employers can submit amended data together with an explanation of why the initial report was incorrect.

Penalties may apply to principal employers that submit a report:

• that is late
• that knowingly contains false or incorrect information
• with reckless disregard as whether or not the entry is false or incorrect.

The principal employer must still pay the original Notice of Assessment. The Department will then adjust the reported worker hours and a Notice of Reassessment/Adjustment will be issued showing the increase or decrease in levy hours, and the amount to be paid or refunded.

A reassessment may be done within two years of the original assessment.

The Department authorises people to perform auditing functions for the purpose of investigating and enforcing the levy. These auditors have the power to enter a mine site and other premises of the Principal Employer to conduct inspections of records for the purpose of verifying worker hours.

Further information on the levy audit process is available in an information sheet available in the mining publications section at www.demirs.wa.gov.au

The Department will write to the principal employer advising of the audit outcome and how it will be addressed.

A principal employer has the right to seek a review of the levy assessment if it is believed that the assessment or reassessment of the number of hours worked at the mine by workers in the period is incorrect.

Objections are made to the Department’s Chief Executive Office (i.e. Director General) or authorised Departmental officer and must:

• be in writing
• identify the person making the objection
• attach a copy of the notice relating to the assessment or reassessment the subject of the objection
• give details of the grounds of the objection.

An objection may be lodged by email to levyprocessing@demirs.wa.gov.au

To avoid being charged the penalty for late payment, the original Notice of Assessment should still be paid by the due date. The reviewer will consider and determine your objection within 28 days.

Payment may be made through electronic funds transfer, by cheque, BPay or by credit card via the payment section on the Department’s website. Payment terms are 30 days.

No. Levy assessment notices must be paid in full.

Although a reassessment of levy hours may only be done within two years, the Principal Employer is required to keep records for a period of five years. The Department may conduct audits on the information at any time.

The Mines Safety and Inspection Levy Regulations 2010 are available to view, download and print from the Department of Justice.