❓ Hon Robin Scott questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding staffing and costs within the Department of Mines and Petroleum's environmental division, specifically comparing figures from 2004-2005 and 2015-2016. The Minister declines to provide detailed breakdowns of staffing information, citing resource constraints, but confirms the necessity of dealing with both the DMP and EPA for mining environmental matters.
AnsweredQoN 403Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) With reference to the answers provided for question on notice No. 76 answered on 24 August 2017 concerning the environmental division of the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP), with respect to the said 51 full time, part-time employees and contractors within the environmental division in 2004-2005, will the Minister provide a detailed list with a breakdown showing:
(a) the title of the position or contract;
(b) the specific remuneration rate for each position or contract;
(c) a job description for each position or contract;
(d) the specific mineral field or area within Western Australia for each employee or contractor; and
(e) the title of the individual with managerial responsibility to whom the holder of each position or contract reports?
(2) With reference to the answers provided for question on notice No. 76 answered on 24 August 2017 concerning the environmental division of the DMP, with respect to the said 74 full-time, part-time employees and contractors within the environmental division in 2015-2016, will the Minister provide a detailed list with a breakdown showing:
(a) the title of the position or contract;
(b) the specific remuneration rate for each position or contract;
(c) a job description for each position or contract;
(d) the specific mineral field or area within Western Australia for each employee or contractor; and
(e) the title of the individual with managerial responsibility to whom the holder of each position or contract reports?
(3) Can the Minister provide detailed reasons for the number of environmental employees or contractors rising from 51 to 74, and will the Minister advise whether this increase was implemented with or without the prior knowledge of the Minister?
(4) Can the Minister provide detailed reasons why the total cost for wages/salaries and payments to employees/contractors within the environmental division has risen from $1.8 million to $8.2 million?
(5) With reference to the answers provided for question on notice No. 76 answered on 24 August 2017 concerning the environmental division of the DMP, with respect to the said "reduction in two" of employees and contractors within the environmental division, will the Minister provide a detailed list with a breakdown showing:
(a) the title of the position or contract;
(b) the specific remuneration rate for each position or contract;
(c) a job description for each position or contract;
(d) the specific mineral field or area within Western Australia for each employee or contractor;
(e) the title of the individual with managerial responsibility to whom the holder of each position or contract reports; and
(f) the detailed reasons why the DMP decided to reduce the number of employees or contractors by two?
(6) Can the Minister advise whether it is essential for the mining industry to deal with an environmental division of the DMP and also with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)?
(7) Is there a reason why all environmental matters relating to mining cannot be handled by the environmental division of the DMP without reference to the EPA?
(a) the title of the position or contract;
(b) the specific remuneration rate for each position or contract;
(c) a job description for each position or contract;
(d) the specific mineral field or area within Western Australia for each employee or contractor; and
(e) the title of the individual with managerial responsibility to whom the holder of each position or contract reports?
(2) With reference to the answers provided for question on notice No. 76 answered on 24 August 2017 concerning the environmental division of the DMP, with respect to the said 74 full-time, part-time employees and contractors within the environmental division in 2015-2016, will the Minister provide a detailed list with a breakdown showing:
(a) the title of the position or contract;
(b) the specific remuneration rate for each position or contract;
(c) a job description for each position or contract;
(d) the specific mineral field or area within Western Australia for each employee or contractor; and
(e) the title of the individual with managerial responsibility to whom the holder of each position or contract reports?
(3) Can the Minister provide detailed reasons for the number of environmental employees or contractors rising from 51 to 74, and will the Minister advise whether this increase was implemented with or without the prior knowledge of the Minister?
(4) Can the Minister provide detailed reasons why the total cost for wages/salaries and payments to employees/contractors within the environmental division has risen from $1.8 million to $8.2 million?
(5) With reference to the answers provided for question on notice No. 76 answered on 24 August 2017 concerning the environmental division of the DMP, with respect to the said "reduction in two" of employees and contractors within the environmental division, will the Minister provide a detailed list with a breakdown showing:
(a) the title of the position or contract;
(b) the specific remuneration rate for each position or contract;
(c) a job description for each position or contract;
(d) the specific mineral field or area within Western Australia for each employee or contractor;
(e) the title of the individual with managerial responsibility to whom the holder of each position or contract reports; and
(f) the detailed reasons why the DMP decided to reduce the number of employees or contractors by two?
(6) Can the Minister advise whether it is essential for the mining industry to deal with an environmental division of the DMP and also with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)?
(7) Is there a reason why all environmental matters relating to mining cannot be handled by the environmental division of the DMP without reference to the EPA?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
28 November 2017
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
9 days
1.
(a) – (e) Provision of this information would require considerable research that would divert staff attention away from their normal duties and I am not prepared to allocate the State’s resources to provide a response.
2.
(a) – (e) See answer provided for (1) (a) – (e).
3.
I refer the Member to the answers provided for Legislative Council Question on Notice 377. I am unable to comment on the previous Minister’s knowledge.
4.
The total cost of wages/salaries has risen due to the increased number of employees/contractors.
5.
See answer provided for (1) (a) – (e).
6.
Yes. The environmental legislative framework pertaining to mining operations in Western Australia is inclusive of both the
Mining Act 1978
and the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
.
7.
See answer provided for (6).
(a) – (e) Provision of this information would require considerable research that would divert staff attention away from their normal duties and I am not prepared to allocate the State’s resources to provide a response.
2.
(a) – (e) See answer provided for (1) (a) – (e).
3.
I refer the Member to the answers provided for Legislative Council Question on Notice 377. I am unable to comment on the previous Minister’s knowledge.
4.
The total cost of wages/salaries has risen due to the increased number of employees/contractors.
5.
See answer provided for (1) (a) – (e).
6.
Yes. The environmental legislative framework pertaining to mining operations in Western Australia is inclusive of both the
Mining Act 1978
and the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
.
7.
See answer provided for (6).
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