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ACIL Allen Consulting
Abstract
Geoscience Australia commissioned ACIL Allen Consulting (ACIL Allen) to independently quantify the return on investment from six pre-competitive geoscience projects. These projects include three from the first phase of the $225 million Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program (2016-2024) and three pre-EFTF projects that were undertaken within the last two decades: the Mineral Potential Mapper Project (2012-2016), the Salt Lakes Study (2012-2014), and the Northeast Yilgarn Project (2001-2004). ACIL Allen has shown that the net benefits that have been estimated to flow as a result of Geoscience Australia’s spending on each of the projects are all positive, and in many cases, quite large. The return on investment analysis for the three EFTF case studies is published separately (https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/132897) and the analysis of the three pre-EFTF case studies is available here in three standalone reports. An additional overview report synthesises the findings from all six case studies to assess the broader impact and value of pre-competitive geoscience projects. This synthesis includes projects undertaken by Geoscience Australia alone or in collaboration with state/territory geological surveys and other research organisations. ACIL Allen estimated that the net present value of benefits to Australia attributed to Geoscience Australia’s contribution to the three pre-EFTF projects are between $962 million and $2.4 billion, depending on the scenario considered. ACIL Allen also estimated that for every dollar invested by Geoscience Australia in these pre-EFTF projects, the Australian Government could gain a net benefit of at least $15 and potentially as much as $157. The analysis also shows that direct jobs associated with mining operations potentially arising from GA’s work on the six projects could number in the thousands. The ACIL Allen analysis also demonstrates that considerable time may elapse between the completion of a Geoscience Australia project and commencement of the mining of any resources that are identified. The three pre-EFTF projects examined suggest that it is around 10 years between the publication of Geoscience Australia’s results and the development of a mine. Therefore, If the development of any resources based on the findings of the EFTF projects follow similar timelines, then we could potentially expect to see new mines in operation sometime between 2026 and 2030.
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document
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145195
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
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- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
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- GEOPHYSICSAgricultural EconomicsPublic Economics- Taxation and RevenueGEOLOGYHydrogeologyPetroleum and Coal GeologyEARTH SCIENCESOre Deposit PetrologyAgricultural Land PlanningOTHER EARTH SCIENCESEconomic Development and Growth
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- Exploring For The Future
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- EFTF
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Geoscience Australia commissioned this independent expert report to quantify the return on investment, primarily in terms of returns to government through increased government revenue, for selected case studies from the EFTF and earlier precompetitive geoscience programs. This return on investment analysis was undertaken to demonstrate the justification for Government investment in pre-competitive geoscience.
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geoscientificInformation
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ACIL Allen Consulting were contracted by Geoscience Australia to prepare these independent reports in May 2020 and the final reports were provided in September 2020.
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