Hon Ben Dawkins asks about a phone call between former Premier McGowan and the EPA head, questioning the EPA's independence. The answer refers to the EPA maintaining its own records and the legislative framework outlining its independence.

AnsweredQoN 1023Legislative Council
Asked
13 September 2023
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AUTHORITY — PREMIER McGOWAN
1023. Hon BEN DAWKINS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer the minister to the news
article dated 10 September 2023 by Kathryn Diss at the ABC.
(1) Is there a written
record or file note relating to the phone call referred to in the article
between former Premier Mark McGowan and the head of the Environmental
Protection Authority, Dr Tom Hatton?
(2) If there is, can the minister
table the record; and, if not, why not?
(3) Is the Environmental Protection
Authority still an independent authority?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice
of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide the
following answer.
(1)–(3) The Environmental Protection Authority maintains
its own independent records. The legislative framework of section 8 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986 outlines the independence of the EPA and the
EPA chair.

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