Just to clarify, this was to cut red tape for miner using a mining CLAIM (upto 20 hectares) and for gem and opal miners.
Gold miners were not included.
I think, what it does is increase the amount of dirt that can be pegged under a claim. Lets the miner use machinary, and the miner does not have to put in a 'plan of operations'.
The financial assurance though will increase... by how much I dont know??