❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2015 and the Minister's response highlighting its key features and criticising the opposition's voting record.
AnsweredQoN 662Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BIODIVERSITY
CONSERVATION BILL 2015
662. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the
Minister for Environment:
I congratulate the minister on passing the long-awaited
Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2015 last night. Can the minister remind the
house what this legislation will do?
CONSERVATION BILL 2015
662. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the
Minister for Environment:
I congratulate the minister on passing the long-awaited
Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2015 last night. Can the minister remind the
house what this legislation will do?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Morley for —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you!
Mr A.P. JACOB : I thank
the member for Morley for the question. I know the member for Morley takes
biodiversity conservation very seriously, as does every member on this side of
the house. The passing of the Biodiversity Conservation Bill is the most
significant milestone in biodiversity conservation legislation in this state
for 66 years.
Mr C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells!
Mr A.P. JACOB : It
replaces the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. It delivers on a 2013 pre-election
commitment. It is something the other side committed to for decades, but 2013
was the first time that we committed to it and we delivered it in the first
term after we committed to it. The new bill delivers conservation powers that
have never been seen before in the state. Quite simply, every single —
Mr C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Quite simply, every single provision in this new legislation is superior to the
existing Wildlife Conservation Act, yet that rabble over there voted against
it. This Liberal–National government —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, you have not stopped; I call you to order for the first
time. Member for Gosnells, I do not want to hear you. I want this answer
through the Chair—quick answer.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Yes, Mr Speaker, I am trying.
This Liberal–National
government has taken a tough stance against the harming of and the illegal
trade in our unique plants and animals in Western Australia. Fines under this
bill will increase from the existing $4 000 —
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Fines in this bill will increase from the existing $4 000 to a maximum
penalty of $500 000. There is new special protection for whales, dugongs,
dolphins and other cetaceans. It also enables for the first time the listing of
habitat areas of land or water critical to survival of a threatened species or
a threatened ecological community. For the first time critical habitat will be
recognised by law in Western Australia. There is now increased public scrutiny
of ministerial decisions on listing of native species.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : There are improved ministerial accountability measures —
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I just want to tell you something, member for Gosnells: if you
keep shouting out, you will be having a rest. You have two minutes, minister.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Fines have been increased to $1 million for illegally obtaining
and trading in sandalwood. Let the record show that all of these positive
measures are things that the Labor Party has voted against repeatedly in this
house. The Labor Party either does not understand or does not care about the
environment. Last night in this place the Labor Party agreed with us at the
point in clauses in which we removed all ministerial accountability—the
Labor Party agreed with removing all ministerial accountability—but
when we sought to insert tougher clauses on ministerial accountability, the
Labor Party voted against it. The Labor Party voted against any parameters on a
ministerial decision for scientific advice. Forget what members opposite talk
about, that is their voting record. They voted against special protection for
critical habitat. They voted against protection of —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Fremantle and member for Maylands, I call you both to
order. You are starting to run out of time now, minister, so one minute.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : There is an absurd amount of rhetoric from the members
opposite. They have never in their history achieved an update to the Wildlife
Conservation Act, even to bring into this house, and they are so riddled with
petty jealousy that they voted against special protection; they voted against
listing of critical habitat; they voted against special protection for
cetaceans; they voted against ministerial accountability; and they voted
against scientific advice.
Ms
L.L. Baker interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Maylands!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : If it was not for the Liberal–National government,
which cares about the environment —
Ms
L.L. Baker interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Maylands, I call you to order for the second time. You now
have 15 seconds, minister.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Members opposite voted to keep fines to a maximum of $4 000.
What a joke! The Liberal–National government achieves; it does not do
hollow rhetoric. Members opposite should be forever condemned for the petty
jealousy and the farce of voting against this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
update biodiversity conservation in this state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you!
Mr A.P. JACOB : I thank
the member for Morley for the question. I know the member for Morley takes
biodiversity conservation very seriously, as does every member on this side of
the house. The passing of the Biodiversity Conservation Bill is the most
significant milestone in biodiversity conservation legislation in this state
for 66 years.
Mr C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells!
Mr A.P. JACOB : It
replaces the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. It delivers on a 2013 pre-election
commitment. It is something the other side committed to for decades, but 2013
was the first time that we committed to it and we delivered it in the first
term after we committed to it. The new bill delivers conservation powers that
have never been seen before in the state. Quite simply, every single —
Mr C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Quite simply, every single provision in this new legislation is superior to the
existing Wildlife Conservation Act, yet that rabble over there voted against
it. This Liberal–National government —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, you have not stopped; I call you to order for the first
time. Member for Gosnells, I do not want to hear you. I want this answer
through the Chair—quick answer.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Yes, Mr Speaker, I am trying.
This Liberal–National
government has taken a tough stance against the harming of and the illegal
trade in our unique plants and animals in Western Australia. Fines under this
bill will increase from the existing $4 000 —
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Fines in this bill will increase from the existing $4 000 to a maximum
penalty of $500 000. There is new special protection for whales, dugongs,
dolphins and other cetaceans. It also enables for the first time the listing of
habitat areas of land or water critical to survival of a threatened species or
a threatened ecological community. For the first time critical habitat will be
recognised by law in Western Australia. There is now increased public scrutiny
of ministerial decisions on listing of native species.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : There are improved ministerial accountability measures —
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I just want to tell you something, member for Gosnells: if you
keep shouting out, you will be having a rest. You have two minutes, minister.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Fines have been increased to $1 million for illegally obtaining
and trading in sandalwood. Let the record show that all of these positive
measures are things that the Labor Party has voted against repeatedly in this
house. The Labor Party either does not understand or does not care about the
environment. Last night in this place the Labor Party agreed with us at the
point in clauses in which we removed all ministerial accountability—the
Labor Party agreed with removing all ministerial accountability—but
when we sought to insert tougher clauses on ministerial accountability, the
Labor Party voted against it. The Labor Party voted against any parameters on a
ministerial decision for scientific advice. Forget what members opposite talk
about, that is their voting record. They voted against special protection for
critical habitat. They voted against protection of —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Fremantle and member for Maylands, I call you both to
order. You are starting to run out of time now, minister, so one minute.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : There is an absurd amount of rhetoric from the members
opposite. They have never in their history achieved an update to the Wildlife
Conservation Act, even to bring into this house, and they are so riddled with
petty jealousy that they voted against special protection; they voted against
listing of critical habitat; they voted against special protection for
cetaceans; they voted against ministerial accountability; and they voted
against scientific advice.
Ms
L.L. Baker interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Maylands!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : If it was not for the Liberal–National government,
which cares about the environment —
Ms
L.L. Baker interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Maylands, I call you to order for the second time. You now
have 15 seconds, minister.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Members opposite voted to keep fines to a maximum of $4 000.
What a joke! The Liberal–National government achieves; it does not do
hollow rhetoric. Members opposite should be forever condemned for the petty
jealousy and the farce of voting against this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
update biodiversity conservation in this state.
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