The Department of Mines and Petroleum was a department of the Government of Western Australia until it was superseded by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety on 1 July 2017.About DMIRS Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 30 May 2018 The department was formed on 1 January 2009, out of the former Department of Industry & Resources and Department of Consumer & Employment Protection, which were split into three new departments, the Department of Mines & Petroleum, the Department of State Development and the Department of Commerce.Department of Industry and Resources Restructure accessed: 27 October 2010
Its focus is the resources sector, maintaining a mining and petroleum regulatory role and incorporating the resources safety responsibilities from the former Department of Consumer & Employment Protection. It also oversees the Geological Survey of Western Australia.
The department operates the Mindex website, a continuously updated database containing information on mines, mineral deposits and prospects in Western Australia.MINEDEX website accessed: 11 November 2010
Earlier history The original Department of Mines was created on 1 January 1894 and ceased in that name on 1 July 1992 when it became the Department of Minerals and Energy. - the entry in the State Records Office of WA has an entry Description area: Dates of existence: 1894-01-01 - 1992-07-01 - with a text section titled History (access-date=1 July 2023)
During the 1894 - 1992 era, the department was originally divided into branches: Registration Accounts Correspondence Drafting Government Geologist (1896 was known as the Geological Survey Branch.The name was used in the 1950s and 1960s. )
Before the change of 1992, the branches had become divisions: Geological Survey Mining Engineering Petroleum (usually known as the Petroleum Operations Division) Government Chemical Laboratories Corporate Services Explosives and Dangerous Goods Mining Registration Surveys & Mapping
2000s On 1 July 2001 Department of Minerals and Energy and the Department of Resources Development were merged to form the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
Further to a review in 2003 the department was merged with the Department of Industry and Technology to form the Department of Industry and Resources on 3 February 2003.
This department was divided into business groups: Mineral and Petroleum Resources Business and Trade Services Investment Services
The department was changed again on 1 January 2009 and three new departments were formed:
Department of Mines and Petroleum Department of State Development Department of Commerce (which included the Science and Innovation functions of the Department of Industry and Resources)
See also
Mining in Western Australia Regions of Western Australia State Batteries in Western Australia Western Australia Atlas of mineral deposits and petroleum fields
References
External links Government of Western Australia website Department of Mines and Petroleum website