Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for State Development regarding public access to environmental documents and project management plans within the Department of Industry and Resources. The Minister's response indicates limited progress and a lack of plans for broader access.

AnsweredQoN 799Legislative Council
Asked
15 May 2003
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the 2001-02 Budget Statements presented to the Legislative Assembly on September 13 2001 specifically page number 984 under the heading ‘Major Initiatives for 2001-02’ which in part states ‘Commencement of a program to improve transparency of environmental approval process, including public access to NOIs, annual environmental reports and environmental management plans’ -
(1) Can the Minister state on what date the Department of Industry and Resources will make public access to NOIs, annual environmental reports and environmental management plans publicly available upon request?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Will the Minister include Project Management Plans required under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act
and Regulations to be made publicly available upon request in the same manner as the other documents outlined in question (1) above?
(4) If no to (3), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
25 June 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
41 days
(1) No. (2) The Department implemented Phase 1 of a program to improve transparency of the environmental approval process by publishing an up-to-date listing of Notices of Intent (NOI) on the Departmental website. The next phase is for the Department to develop guidelines for the preparation of NOIs, Annual Environmental Reports and Environmental Management Plans so that the information can be made available to the public on request. (3) & (4) No. The information contained in the Project Management Plans required under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act and Regulations has not been sought by the general public and therefore no plans currently exist for providing more general public access to this material.
(2) The Department implemented Phase 1 of a program to improve transparency of the environmental approval process by publishing an up-to-date listing of Notices of Intent (NOI) on the Departmental website. The next phase is for the Department to develop guidelines for the preparation of NOIs, Annual Environmental Reports and Environmental Management Plans so that the information can be made available to the public on request. (3) & (4) No. The information contained in the Project Management Plans required under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act and Regulations has not been sought by the general public and therefore no plans currently exist for providing more general public access to this material.

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