Reason, sanity and the democratic process prevailed in the Legislative Council and prevented the Minister for Mineral Resources from fast tracking an amendment to the Mining Act which would overturn the Supreme Court ruling on access agreements. While the Labor party has the numbers to pass legislation in the Legislative Assembly, it has been postponed to the 11th May for debate in the Legislative Council.

It is best summed up by Mr Andrew Stoner in his address to the Legislative Assembly.

‘Given our concerns about the appalling removal of the rights of people concerned with Caroona and about the Government’s lack of transparency in not allowing us to properly examine this legislation, we are left with no choice but to oppose the bill today. In the Legislative Council the Opposition will ask that the bill be adjourned ………. to allow us the opportunity for proper scrutiny of the bill and consultation with the community. It will also enable us to thoroughly examine the bill—which, as I have said, just hit the decks here 15 or 20 minutes ago—so that we can consider what it does and does not do. Simply put, the Government cannot be trusted given its past form.’