❓ The Minister for Environment updates the house on the implementation of the government's election commitment to separate the Department of Environment and Conservation into the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Environment Regulation, highlighting their respective responsibilities and commitments.
AnsweredQoN 374Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE; DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT REGULATION —
ESTABLISHMENT
374. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Minister for
Environment:
Could the
minister please update the house on the implementation of the government's
election commitment to separate the Department of Environment and Conservation
into two new departments?
ESTABLISHMENT
374. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Minister for
Environment:
Could the
minister please update the house on the implementation of the government's
election commitment to separate the Department of Environment and Conservation
into two new departments?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for Churchlands for the question. I am pleased to inform the house that
this government has moved swiftly to deliver on the first of our commitments in
the environment portfolio; specifically, to separate what was the Department of
Environment and Conservation into two dedicated arms—one focused on
conservation and parks, which will now be the Department of Parks and Wildlife,
and the other now focused on environment regulation, being the Department of
Environment Regulation. This will provide for clearer and more publicly
transparent responsibilities and objectives.
The new Department of Parks and Wildlife will have
responsibility for managing this state's 27 million hectares of parks
and reserves, which is an absolutely staggering amount of land. There will be a
strong focus on flora and fauna conservation within this area. Western
Australia is recognised internationally for its unique wildlife and habitat
areas; indeed, out of the 15 or so biodiversity hotspots recognised on the
Australian continent, eight are located within Western Australia.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife will also be charged
with rolling out one of the other commitments of this government—the
parks for people program, which I have referred to in this house previously.
This program will deliver low cost, accessible family-based accommodation and
facilities right around the south west and midwest, in particular, but also in
other areas of the state, encouraging Western Australians and visitors to this
state to get out and enjoy our natural parks and our natural attractions in a
low-cost, accessible way.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife
also has carriage of this government's commitment to the Kimberley
science and conservation strategy—a $63 million commitment in the last
term of government followed up with a further $15 million commitment in this term
of government—which will include building on the work of what we have
done in previous terms, such as extending the great Kimberley marine park all
the way out to the Northern Territory border, the creation of the Wandjina
national park over the Mitchell Plateau and much more fantastic work.
The new Department of Environment
Regulation —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : You'll have as many departments as local government
authorities the way you're going.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I thank the member.
The new Department of Environment
Regulation will be maintaining and enhancing this state's high level of
environmental standards. The Department of Environment Regulation will create a
more efficient, legible and effective regulatory framework for this state. It
will continue to issue licences and works approvals under the Environmental
Protection Act and will be charged with such duties as overseeing land clearing
and supporting the Waste Authority on managing and looking at strategic plans
for waste recovery, particularly in the metropolitan area but also around the
state.
As I have said, this government is already delivering on its
first commitment in the environment portfolio. I put on record my thanks to all
the staff within the former DEC, who are now with the Department of Environment
Regulation and the Department of Parks and Wildlife. There has been an
absolutely seamless transition from the leadership areas right through to all
the staff. They have been a pleasure to work with throughout this process. It
is quite clear that there has been no noticeable disruption to services or to
the public or within government.
member for Churchlands for the question. I am pleased to inform the house that
this government has moved swiftly to deliver on the first of our commitments in
the environment portfolio; specifically, to separate what was the Department of
Environment and Conservation into two dedicated arms—one focused on
conservation and parks, which will now be the Department of Parks and Wildlife,
and the other now focused on environment regulation, being the Department of
Environment Regulation. This will provide for clearer and more publicly
transparent responsibilities and objectives.
The new Department of Parks and Wildlife will have
responsibility for managing this state's 27 million hectares of parks
and reserves, which is an absolutely staggering amount of land. There will be a
strong focus on flora and fauna conservation within this area. Western
Australia is recognised internationally for its unique wildlife and habitat
areas; indeed, out of the 15 or so biodiversity hotspots recognised on the
Australian continent, eight are located within Western Australia.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife will also be charged
with rolling out one of the other commitments of this government—the
parks for people program, which I have referred to in this house previously.
This program will deliver low cost, accessible family-based accommodation and
facilities right around the south west and midwest, in particular, but also in
other areas of the state, encouraging Western Australians and visitors to this
state to get out and enjoy our natural parks and our natural attractions in a
low-cost, accessible way.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife
also has carriage of this government's commitment to the Kimberley
science and conservation strategy—a $63 million commitment in the last
term of government followed up with a further $15 million commitment in this term
of government—which will include building on the work of what we have
done in previous terms, such as extending the great Kimberley marine park all
the way out to the Northern Territory border, the creation of the Wandjina
national park over the Mitchell Plateau and much more fantastic work.
The new Department of Environment
Regulation —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : You'll have as many departments as local government
authorities the way you're going.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I thank the member.
The new Department of Environment
Regulation will be maintaining and enhancing this state's high level of
environmental standards. The Department of Environment Regulation will create a
more efficient, legible and effective regulatory framework for this state. It
will continue to issue licences and works approvals under the Environmental
Protection Act and will be charged with such duties as overseeing land clearing
and supporting the Waste Authority on managing and looking at strategic plans
for waste recovery, particularly in the metropolitan area but also around the
state.
As I have said, this government is already delivering on its
first commitment in the environment portfolio. I put on record my thanks to all
the staff within the former DEC, who are now with the Department of Environment
Regulation and the Department of Parks and Wildlife. There has been an
absolutely seamless transition from the leadership areas right through to all
the staff. They have been a pleasure to work with throughout this process. It
is quite clear that there has been no noticeable disruption to services or to
the public or within government.
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