caz holders are dreaming, page-74

Pussycat,
Contrary to what you keep saying I just can't see how it revolves just on public interest.

Re-read below the Minister's powers of determination provisions in the Act;

111A. Minister may terminate or summarily refuse certain applications
(1) The Minister may

(a) by notice served on the mining registrar or the warden, as the case requires, terminate an application for a mining tenement before the mining registrar or the warden has determined, or made a recommendation in respect of, the application; or

(b) refuse an application for a mining tenement,

if in respect of the whole or any part of the land to which the application relates

(c) the Minister is satisfied on reasonable grounds in the public interest that

(i) the land should not be disturbed; or

(ii) the application should not be granted;

or

(d) a person who in relation to the land was formerly the lessee of a mining lease the term of which has expired, or is a person deriving title through such a former lessee, has subsequently made a late renewal application and the Minister, being satisfied that the requirements of that expired mining lease and of this Act in relation to that lease had been substantially observed (other than as to the timing of an application for renewal) and that the person has continued to observe those requirements as if the term of the lease had not expired, determines that the renewal application should be approved and grants that renewal.

It reads to me that the Minister may only refuse (not grant it doesn't say grant only refuse to grant) an application by invoking either option a or b but only if they are satisfied that one of the 2 conditions contained in option c exist, but that additionally the Minister may also invoke option D in which case the lease reverts to the previous owner, PROVIDED THAT they have complied with the requirements of the lease.