❓ Mrs. O'Malley questions the Premier on the McGowan government's environmental commitments, particularly regarding national park expansion. The Premier responds by outlining targets and ongoing initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 96Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MCGOWAN GOVERNMENT —
CONSERVATION
96. Mrs
L.M. O'MALLEY to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to conservation and ensuring that we have a cleaner
and more sustainable environment. Can the Premier update the house on the
actions that the McGowan Labor government is taking to deliver on its
commitment to protect our environment, and can the Premier outline what targets
the government has set to protect and expand our national parks?
CONSERVATION
96. Mrs
L.M. O'MALLEY to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to conservation and ensuring that we have a cleaner
and more sustainable environment. Can the Premier update the house on the
actions that the McGowan Labor government is taking to deliver on its
commitment to protect our environment, and can the Premier outline what targets
the government has set to protect and expand our national parks?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bicton for
the question. Yesterday, we launched a very bold target to increase the
conservation estate in Western Australia—national parks, conservation
reserves and marine parks—by 20 per cent in the course of the next five
years or so. That will mean new and expanded parks all across Western Australia,
from the Kimberley across the midwest to the south west and beyond. Work is
already underway —
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, you are on three. Do you know what that means? The same as in
the upper house—you go home.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Work is
already underway on our commitment to expand Fitzroy River National Park.
Planning is underway to expand Wellington National Park. The Preston River to
Ocean Regional Park commitment is underway, along with Leschenault Regional
Park and a range of others across Western Australia. We know, as do many,
including the Tourism Council Western Australia—I was pleased to hear
about its support of this—that this creates jobs and opportunities,
particularly in Aboriginal joint management and on-country jobs for Indigenous
people. The Aboriginal ranger program, which we expanded very significantly in
our first budget, is a terrific program. It
allows Aboriginal people to connect to country and look after the beautiful
regions of Western Australia.
We are very committed to tourism.
Tourists love our natural environment. Tourism is a large part of our state's
future. Our biggest selling point nationally and internationally is our
marvellous and beautiful environment. We will have a comprehensive consultation
process now with traditional owners, the resources sector, pastoralists,
commercial and recreational fishers, conservation groups, local governments and
others to work out the boundaries and areas of this increase to conservation
reserves.
When it comes to waste, we are targeting 75 per cent of waste
in WA to be re-used or recycled by 2030. As members know, we have ruled out
single-use plastic bags, and next year we are bringing in a container deposit
scheme in Western Australia, the first time ever that has been in place on a state
basis.
We are very committed to protecting Western
Australia's environment. We believe good environmental management and
the creation of a strong economy and jobs go hand in hand.
the question. Yesterday, we launched a very bold target to increase the
conservation estate in Western Australia—national parks, conservation
reserves and marine parks—by 20 per cent in the course of the next five
years or so. That will mean new and expanded parks all across Western Australia,
from the Kimberley across the midwest to the south west and beyond. Work is
already underway —
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, you are on three. Do you know what that means? The same as in
the upper house—you go home.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Work is
already underway on our commitment to expand Fitzroy River National Park.
Planning is underway to expand Wellington National Park. The Preston River to
Ocean Regional Park commitment is underway, along with Leschenault Regional
Park and a range of others across Western Australia. We know, as do many,
including the Tourism Council Western Australia—I was pleased to hear
about its support of this—that this creates jobs and opportunities,
particularly in Aboriginal joint management and on-country jobs for Indigenous
people. The Aboriginal ranger program, which we expanded very significantly in
our first budget, is a terrific program. It
allows Aboriginal people to connect to country and look after the beautiful
regions of Western Australia.
We are very committed to tourism.
Tourists love our natural environment. Tourism is a large part of our state's
future. Our biggest selling point nationally and internationally is our
marvellous and beautiful environment. We will have a comprehensive consultation
process now with traditional owners, the resources sector, pastoralists,
commercial and recreational fishers, conservation groups, local governments and
others to work out the boundaries and areas of this increase to conservation
reserves.
When it comes to waste, we are targeting 75 per cent of waste
in WA to be re-used or recycled by 2030. As members know, we have ruled out
single-use plastic bags, and next year we are bringing in a container deposit
scheme in Western Australia, the first time ever that has been in place on a state
basis.
We are very committed to protecting Western
Australia's environment. We believe good environmental management and
the creation of a strong economy and jobs go hand in hand.
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