CME Chief Executive, Tim Shanahan said the announcement was significant to the State in improving the acquisition of precompetitive geoscientific data and supporting and encouraging geoscientific research and education.

"As part of the Mineral Exploration Action Agenda (MEAA), CME has been at the forefront of an industry campaign to find remedies for the prolonged downturn in minerals exploration expenditure," he said.

"A common thread of all recent inquiries investigating the downturn in exploration has been the need to increase spending on pre-competitive geoscientific information".

"But we must remember that an extra $12 million isn't the end game, rather it's a good step forward as every inquiry into the exploration downturn has recommended a suite of measures must be adopted," said Shanahan.

To date just 25% of the State has been explored using the latest geoscience technology.

Premier Geoff Gallop said the plan will involve specially fitted aircraft criss-crossing the State gathering images of what lies 50 to 100m beneath the surface of some of the most remote parts of WA.

In addition to the new geoscience information, Dr Gallop said the Government would provide an additional $2.1million over three years for a range of other mining and exploration initiatives.

This includes releasing mineral exploration data contained in 13,000 reports collected during past exploration activities and which have been gathering dust in the Government's back room - in some cases for 20 years. The reports represent $2billion worth of archived exploration information.

The Government will also amend the Mining Act this year to ensure that in future, mineral exploration data is released after five years so the whole industry can share the knowledge.