❓ A parliamentary question regarding the approval of the Bluewaters 2 power station by the Acting Minister for the Environment, focusing on lobbying by Brian Burke and Julian Grill and potential pressure exerted on departmental officers. The Minister's response deflects and politicizes the issue.
AnsweredQoN 911Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BLUEWATERS 2 POWER STATION
I refer to the minister’s media release of 15 November in which it was revealed that he had been lobbied by Brian Burke and Julian Grill on behalf of the Griffin Coal Mining Company Pty Ltd. (1) Why was it that during his nine days as Acting Minister for the Environment earlier this year, he felt compelled to approve Griffin Coal’s private $400 million Bluewaters 2 power station? (2) Given the significance of this decision and the minister’s acting position, why did he not leave the issue to be decided by the new minister? (3) What outcomes were Brian Burke and Julian Grill lobbying the minister for with regard to the Bluewaters 2 project? (4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER
I refer to the minister’s media release of 15 November in which it was revealed that he had been lobbied by Brian Burke and Julian Grill on behalf of the Griffin Coal Mining Company Pty Ltd. (1) Why was it that during his nine days as Acting Minister for the Environment earlier this year, he felt compelled to approve Griffin Coal’s private $400 million Bluewaters 2 power station? (2) Given the significance of this decision and the minister’s acting position, why did he not leave the issue to be decided by the new minister? (3) What outcomes were Brian Burke and Julian Grill lobbying the minister for with regard to the Bluewaters 2 project? (4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(1) Why was it that during his nine days as Acting Minister for the Environment earlier this year, he felt compelled to approve Griffin Coal’s private $400 million Bluewaters 2 power station? (2) Given the significance of this decision and the minister’s acting position, why did he not leave the issue to be decided by the new minister? (3) What outcomes were Brian Burke and Julian Grill lobbying the minister for with regard to the Bluewaters 2 project? (4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(2) Given the significance of this decision and the minister’s acting position, why did he not leave the issue to be decided by the new minister? (3) What outcomes were Brian Burke and Julian Grill lobbying the minister for with regard to the Bluewaters 2 project? (4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(3) What outcomes were Brian Burke and Julian Grill lobbying the minister for with regard to the Bluewaters 2 project? (4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(1) Why was it that during his nine days as Acting Minister for the Environment earlier this year, he felt compelled to approve Griffin Coal’s private $400 million Bluewaters 2 power station? (2) Given the significance of this decision and the minister’s acting position, why did he not leave the issue to be decided by the new minister? (3) What outcomes were Brian Burke and Julian Grill lobbying the minister for with regard to the Bluewaters 2 project? (4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(2) Given the significance of this decision and the minister’s acting position, why did he not leave the issue to be decided by the new minister? (3) What outcomes were Brian Burke and Julian Grill lobbying the minister for with regard to the Bluewaters 2 project? (4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(3) What outcomes were Brian Burke and Julian Grill lobbying the minister for with regard to the Bluewaters 2 project? (4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(4) Is it not the case that he exerted pressure on the chief of staff of the former Minister for the Environment, Mr Ross Field, and departmental officers to ensure that he was able to sign off on the environmental conditions for Bluewaters 2 during his short tenure as acting minister? Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
Mr J.J.M. BOWLER replied: (1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
(1)-(4) First, I think I was acting minister for about a fortnight. The Bluewaters 2 decision was identical in almost every way to Bluewaters 1. In response to the question about whether I would have done anything differently, I tell the people of Collie that the Liberal Party would have knocked back Bluewaters 1 and 2. If the Liberal Party has a policy on that, I would be very glad to debate the matter in this place, in Collie or in the electorate of Capel. The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
The answer to the question about the minister’s chief of staff is no.
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