Australia ratifies the Minamata Convention – implications for Tasmanian mercury mining and exploration

As part of Australia’s ratification of the international Minamata Convention on Mercury, two policy changes are being implemented:

• the conditions of Prosecting Licences have been amended to preclude the use of mercury in prospecting-related activities, and
• The Minister for Resources will no longer grant mining leases where mercury is the primary commodity that will be mined.

These changes will ensure that Tasmania meets its obligations under the Convention and will contribute to protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

For more information on the Minamata Convention go to Minamata Convention on Mercury - DAWE.

Please contact Mineral Resources Tasmania via info@mrt.tas.gov.au if you have any further queries.