Len...lighten up cobber...it's all a bit serious...just making the point that if someone doesn't understand the existing law it's hard to then know how that law needs to be changed.
SOME people up here say...let's have the same fossicking laws as other states... great ...but do we really know any-more about the NSW and Victorian laws... we all assume they allow all manner of things, but I admit to never reading their relevant legislation. Have you ? If so you are probably well in front of others- including me !!
When I spoke to Qld Mines this week, they have done their own review of other state laws and suggest that our QLD laws are actually OK...did you know that Qld is the only state to have a specific Fossicking Act.... in Vic and NSW...prospectors are covered by different legislation more to do with Mining.
Qld Mines bloke suggested to me that NSW doesn't allow highbankers either...who knows... ( maybe your mate Jim in Queenbeyan had a reason to design the banjo??)....and yes I too have seen photos of blokes using bankers at Oallen Forde...doesn't mean their 'legal'.
I haven't checked their (NSW and VIC ) legislation...I just know that "pump operated' highbankers are not allowed in Qld. Got it in writing from Qld Mines this week as well as verbally from the new inspector.
The Act here in Qld is quite simple but we have all fallen for the furphy that is perpetuated by some that 'processing' is not somehow fossicking.
Rossco emails ( the full version) actually covers it pretty well...where he has said (I added the words in
CAPITALS to explain it fully)
- The use a highbanker/sluice to fossick for gold in Queensland is permitted, however any fossicking materials would have to be fed into the hopper by means other than mechanical devices. [/*]
- The use of water in a highbanker/sluice is permitted, so long as the method of delivery (OF THE WATER) to the device does not involve powered equipment. [/*]
- The use of power operated equipment (water pump), which includes mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, battery and electrical equipment and petrol operated machinery, to fossick for gold is strictly prohibited. [/*]
I am not sure why you keep suggesting to others that using highbankers is OK and forget to mention that it's only OK "so long as the method of delivery (of the water) to the device does not involve powered equipment...and where Rossco goes on to say "power operated equipment (water pump)......to fossick for gold is strictly prohibited".
In laymans terms to fossick is to search or dig for alluvial gold (fossicking material). Just because we dig dirt (by hand) and put it in a bucket doesn't mean 'to fossick' is somehow completed...we haven't yet found any gold until the processing is completed and using a pump to supply water to find alluvial gold is still 'fossicking'
Anyway...I would join a lobby group to amend the laws but it needs to be done on more than "Victoria allows such and such (but I haven't actually read their legislation)".
Where the PA forum could help us, is to provide the name of an actual organisation that operates in another state that has successfully lobbied government. Maybe the better answer is to then consider asking them to set up a Qld branch or...we get their stuff to set up a lobby group and copy it here.
regards
Mike