❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier about his knowledge of the EPA's proposed carbon tax before its public release, referencing an apology from the Minister for Environment. The Premier denies knowledge of an apology and characterises the briefing note as a hypothetical scenario.
AnsweredQoN 508Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AUTHORITY — CARBON TAX
508. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I acknowledge on behalf of the
Nationals WA the sad passing of both John Kobelke and George Strickland, and
pass on our condolences.
I refer to the apology the Premier's
Minister for Environment gave in the other place for his failure to disclose
that he had prior knowledge of the Environmental Protection Authority's
secret carbon tax plan. Given the minister has now admitted that he signed off
on a briefing note containing the new tax on 28 February, did the Premier also
have knowledge of this damaging proposal before it was publicly released by the
EPA?
AUTHORITY — CARBON TAX
508. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I acknowledge on behalf of the
Nationals WA the sad passing of both John Kobelke and George Strickland, and
pass on our condolences.
I refer to the apology the Premier's
Minister for Environment gave in the other place for his failure to disclose
that he had prior knowledge of the Environmental Protection Authority's
secret carbon tax plan. Given the minister has now admitted that he signed off
on a briefing note containing the new tax on 28 February, did the Premier also
have knowledge of this damaging proposal before it was publicly released by the
EPA?
AnswerView source ↗
I am unaware of any apology by the
Minister for Environment. But, as I understand it, there was a briefing note—departments
produce briefing notes all the time—about a hypothetical scenario —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Moore.
Mr M. McGOWAN : A little bit
chaotic over there; are we not?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : What is going
on over there?
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr F.M. Logan : Where's
Brutus?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Good point—where
is Brutus? There are only nine Nationals and each think they should be the
leader!
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on; you
keep interjecting on me. If the member wants to keep interjecting, I will have
a few things to say.
The EPA issued some draft guidelines
that were subsequently withdrawn. The minister got some sort of briefing note
about that hypothetical scenario that was subsequently withdrawn. Mr Speaker,
the EPA is now working on further guidelines —
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Now the Leader
of the Nationals WA is interjecting. I mean, honestly; I will wait for the
member's supplementary question and then I will have something more to
say.
Minister for Environment. But, as I understand it, there was a briefing note—departments
produce briefing notes all the time—about a hypothetical scenario —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Moore.
Mr M. McGOWAN : A little bit
chaotic over there; are we not?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : What is going
on over there?
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
Mr F.M. Logan : Where's
Brutus?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Good point—where
is Brutus? There are only nine Nationals and each think they should be the
leader!
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Hold on; you
keep interjecting on me. If the member wants to keep interjecting, I will have
a few things to say.
The EPA issued some draft guidelines
that were subsequently withdrawn. The minister got some sort of briefing note
about that hypothetical scenario that was subsequently withdrawn. Mr Speaker,
the EPA is now working on further guidelines —
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Now the Leader
of the Nationals WA is interjecting. I mean, honestly; I will wait for the
member's supplementary question and then I will have something more to
say.
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