Mining Licences....

Ok...so SMM is moving out.
In their farewell statement they mentioned:

"We will pull out from all of the pending applications for mining leases," a company spokesman said, adding the withdrawal will be completed by the end of December.

Surely this refers to simply finalising paperwork. I don't see how a company would have to formally withdraw their application for another to be awarded a licence.

A current rumour is saying leases will go to tender in January. But that story has been done to death.

Resource Speculator / Port Philip Publishing seem very CONFIDENT & SPECIFIC about decisions being handed down around 30th August.  

Can anyone shed some light on either of these outcomes?

Grub