Western Australia’s new Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration is set to be headed by Chris Shaw, who will step into the director general position on August 4.
Under Premier Roger Cook’s targeted reform of the public sector, from next month onwards the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) will split into two.
The new Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration will administer and drive the future development of the resources industry, with the Department of Local Government, Commerce, Industry Regulation and Safety providing a more focused contact point for other regulatory functions.
Shaw will lead the new resources focused body.
He is currently the deputy director general approvals at the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
His previous roles include deputy director general – hydrogen and future fuels at Queensland Department of Energy and Public Works, executive director – georesources policy at Queensland Department of Resources, and executive director – onshore gas reform at the Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“[Shaw’s] appointment leverages his extensive experience leading large teams in the areas of regulatory decision‑making, strategic policy and major reforms for the resources and environmental management sectors,” the WA Government said.
The reforms will take effect from July 1, with full implementation to be achieved by the end of the year.
“These reforms will ensure we continue to create jobs in globally uncertain times, by backing our resources sector, diversifying our economy for the future and making more things here,” Cook said.
“We will work closely with the public sector leadership and unions as we implement these reforms over the course of this year.”
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