The figures, which were released to coincide with the launch of the 2015 Seven Golden Rules prospector safety campaign, revealed none of the nine prospectors targeted by land searches since January 2014 had been carrying a beacon.
 
Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said the statistics demonstrated the importance of the devices. He said staying safe was the most important thing when prospecting in WA.
 
“It doesn’t matter how much gold you find, if you get lost you risk losing your life,” he said.
 
“If you’re not carrying a beacon, you’re not taking enough responsibility for your life. Undoubtedly, PLBs are the best way of avoiding the sometimes tragic results of getting lost in the Goldfields and outback.”
 
More than 17,000 miner’s rights for prospecting have been issued over the past five years, and Marmion says he is concerned too many people are prospecting without the right equipment.
 
His concerns were echoed by Police Minister Liza Harvey who said searches were not only stressful for families and friends, they also stretched police and emergency resources.
 
“Three years ago, a month-long search ended in tragedy and sparked the push for the PLBs,” Harvey said.
 
“In contrast, a recent search found the missing person just four hours after his device began sending out signals.”
 
Prospector safety has been in the spotlight across the state in recent times following the death of Raymond Kehlet and the disappearance of his wife Jennie while prospecting in WA’s Mid West region in during.
 
The Seven Golden Rules for prospectors launched as part of the safety campaign are: put safety first; obtain a miner’s right permit; obtain a 40E permit; get written permission; comply with all legal requirements; show respect when on Crown land; and fill any holes.