❓ Dr. Pettitt questions the Minister for Environment on the outdated State of the Environment reporting in WA, highlighting the lack of recent reports and formal responses, while the Minister defends the government's approach by citing data contributions to Commonwealth reports and internal planning processes.
AnsweredQoN 889Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) When
was the most recent State of the Environment Report for Western Australia
published? (2) Did
the State Government prepare a formal response to the recommendations in this
report: (a) if
yes to (2), when was it published; and (b) if
no to (2), why not? (3) Is
the Minister aware that the Commonwealth and all other Australian States carry
our regular State of the Environment reporting at 3 to 5 year intervals: (a) if
yes to (3), why does Western Australia not do this? (4) When
is the next Western Australian State of the Environment Report planned to commence and when
will it be published? (5) Does
the Minister agree that regular State of the Environment reporting is essential
for identifying trends, key issues and providing recommendations and
information for effective environmental management: (a) if
no to (5), why not; and (b) if
no to (5), how does the Minister consider that the public, other levels of
government and decision makers should be made aware of trends in environmental
parameters at a State level, including biodiversity and climate change, so
these can be considered in planning and management by a range of stakeholders? (6) Will
the Minister be recommending that the Environmental
Protection Act 1986 be amended to provide for periodic State of Environment reporting: (a) If
no to (7), why not?
was the most recent State of the Environment Report for Western Australia
published? (2) Did
the State Government prepare a formal response to the recommendations in this
report: (a) if
yes to (2), when was it published; and (b) if
no to (2), why not? (3) Is
the Minister aware that the Commonwealth and all other Australian States carry
our regular State of the Environment reporting at 3 to 5 year intervals: (a) if
yes to (3), why does Western Australia not do this? (4) When
is the next Western Australian State of the Environment Report planned to commence and when
will it be published? (5) Does
the Minister agree that regular State of the Environment reporting is essential
for identifying trends, key issues and providing recommendations and
information for effective environmental management: (a) if
no to (5), why not; and (b) if
no to (5), how does the Minister consider that the public, other levels of
government and decision makers should be made aware of trends in environmental
parameters at a State level, including biodiversity and climate change, so
these can be considered in planning and management by a range of stakeholders? (6) Will
the Minister be recommending that the Environmental
Protection Act 1986 be amended to provide for periodic State of Environment reporting: (a) If
no to (7), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 October 2022
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
6 days
(1) 2007.
(2) No
(a) Not applicable.
(b) The Government used the reports in its internal processes to plan its approach to environmental and biodiversity management.
(3) - (6)
The Commonwealth government generally publishes an Australian State of the Environment report every five years. Western Australia provides input and data collected by the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation into the Commonwealth State of the Environment Report. Many of these databases are publicly available.
The McGowan Government recognises the importance of reliable data to underpin evidence-based decision making, and has funded the Biodiversity Information Office to collate biodiversity data and make it accessible. Conserving and protecting Western Australia’s unique environment is a shared responsibility and the Western Australian Government is working collaboratively with stakeholders to implement key planning and management initiatives such as Western Australia’s Climate Policy, Native Vegetation Policy and Environmental Offsets Policy.
The independent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) publishes a report annually under section 21 of the Environment Protection Act 1986 . The EPA’s annual report is tabled in Parliament and sets out the activities of the EPA and environmental matters generally. Historically, the EPA’s annual reports have outlined key environmental issues and challenges within Western Australia.
(2) No
(a) Not applicable.
(b) The Government used the reports in its internal processes to plan its approach to environmental and biodiversity management.
(3) - (6)
The Commonwealth government generally publishes an Australian State of the Environment report every five years. Western Australia provides input and data collected by the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation into the Commonwealth State of the Environment Report. Many of these databases are publicly available.
The McGowan Government recognises the importance of reliable data to underpin evidence-based decision making, and has funded the Biodiversity Information Office to collate biodiversity data and make it accessible. Conserving and protecting Western Australia’s unique environment is a shared responsibility and the Western Australian Government is working collaboratively with stakeholders to implement key planning and management initiatives such as Western Australia’s Climate Policy, Native Vegetation Policy and Environmental Offsets Policy.
The independent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) publishes a report annually under section 21 of the Environment Protection Act 1986 . The EPA’s annual report is tabled in Parliament and sets out the activities of the EPA and environmental matters generally. Historically, the EPA’s annual reports have outlined key environmental issues and challenges within Western Australia.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.