❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the mass deaths of critically endangered sawfish at Gina Rinehart's Liveringa pastoral lease, probing the Minister about awareness, reporting, water extraction, and government response.
AnsweredQoN 2008Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to critically endangered sawfish at
Liveringa pastoral lease, owned by Gina Rinehart, and I ask: (a) is the Minister aware that the sawfish are
critically endangered internationally; (b) is the Minister aware that the Fitzroy River is one of the last major
strongholds of the species; (c) is the Minister aware that the Freshwater Sawfish is listed as a
threatened species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ; (d) is the Minister aware of recent mass sawfish
deaths at Liveringa pastoral lease; (e) if yes to (d), when did the Minister become
aware of this; (f) if yes to (d), how many sawfish died; (g) if yes to (d), were any sawfish saved; (h) in reference to (d), at which coordinates did the sawfish die; (i) in reference to (h), will the Minister table a map of the location in
which the sawfish died; (j) was the site, in (h), downstream of any dams, weirs or
any type of obstruction that impeded water flow; (k) if yes to (j), what was the obstruction; (l) has any water been extracted from the same freshwater system as the one
the sawfish
died
in; (m) if yes to (l), how much water has been extracted; (n) if yes to (l), why was it extracted; (o) if yes to (l), by whom was it extracted; (p) on what date were the sawfish found; (q) when, and by whom, was the incident reported to
the Department and the Minister; (r) will the Minister table the briefing paper from
the Department on any recent fishkills; (s) will the Minister table any reports, and/or other
forms of written communication, on the deaths of sawfish; (t) if no to (s), why not; (u) has the Department and the Minister received
photos of the mass sawfish deaths; (v) if yes to (u), will the Minister table the
photos; (w) if no to (u), why not; (x) has any recent deaths of sawfish been reported
to the Commonwealth Government; (y) if no to (x), why not; (z) has the Ministerial Council on the Fitzroy River been briefed on the mass sawfish deaths; (aa) if no to (z), why not; (bb) if yes to (z), will the Minister table the
briefing papers; and (cc) if no to (bb), why not?
Liveringa pastoral lease, owned by Gina Rinehart, and I ask: (a) is the Minister aware that the sawfish are
critically endangered internationally; (b) is the Minister aware that the Fitzroy River is one of the last major
strongholds of the species; (c) is the Minister aware that the Freshwater Sawfish is listed as a
threatened species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ; (d) is the Minister aware of recent mass sawfish
deaths at Liveringa pastoral lease; (e) if yes to (d), when did the Minister become
aware of this; (f) if yes to (d), how many sawfish died; (g) if yes to (d), were any sawfish saved; (h) in reference to (d), at which coordinates did the sawfish die; (i) in reference to (h), will the Minister table a map of the location in
which the sawfish died; (j) was the site, in (h), downstream of any dams, weirs or
any type of obstruction that impeded water flow; (k) if yes to (j), what was the obstruction; (l) has any water been extracted from the same freshwater system as the one
the sawfish
died
in; (m) if yes to (l), how much water has been extracted; (n) if yes to (l), why was it extracted; (o) if yes to (l), by whom was it extracted; (p) on what date were the sawfish found; (q) when, and by whom, was the incident reported to
the Department and the Minister; (r) will the Minister table the briefing paper from
the Department on any recent fishkills; (s) will the Minister table any reports, and/or other
forms of written communication, on the deaths of sawfish; (t) if no to (s), why not; (u) has the Department and the Minister received
photos of the mass sawfish deaths; (v) if yes to (u), will the Minister table the
photos; (w) if no to (u), why not; (x) has any recent deaths of sawfish been reported
to the Commonwealth Government; (y) if no to (x), why not; (z) has the Ministerial Council on the Fitzroy River been briefed on the mass sawfish deaths; (aa) if no to (z), why not; (bb) if yes to (z), will the Minister table the
briefing papers; and (cc) if no to (bb), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 May 2024
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Water
Response time
8 days
(a)-(c) The Minister is aware this species is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, that the Fitzroy catchment is a key habitat for this species and that this species is listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
(d) Yes.
(e) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) notified the Minister’s office on Friday 1 December 2023.
(f) 17.
(g) 34.
(h) X635217.72721, Y8013396.16890 or 17.96343S, 124.6795E.
(i) [see tabled paper no.]
(j) No.
(k) Not applicable.
(l)Yes.
(m) 834 megalitres in the 2023 calendar year.
(n) Irrigation of pasture.
(o) Northern Australian Pastoral Properties Pty Ltd.
(p) 21 November 2023.
(q) Dr. Bruce Butcher, a representative from Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd, on Thursday, 30 November 2023.
(r)-(t) Information regarding this event relates to the licence operating strategy. Such information is not publicly available under the RIWI Act.
(u)-(w) DWER received photos within the Murdoch University report that was provided on Monday, December 4, 2023. The Minister has received photos of the location in which the event occurred. The photos concerned are contained in the Murdoch University report and as noted at (r)-(t), this has been compiled as part of the operating strategy by the licensee.
(x) No.
(y) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has been advised and has primary responsibility for threatened species listing and management in Western Australia.
(z)-(aa) The Fitzroy River Ministerial Council has not convened since the event.
(bb) Not applicable.
(cc) Not applicable.
(d) Yes.
(e) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) notified the Minister’s office on Friday 1 December 2023.
(f) 17.
(g) 34.
(h) X635217.72721, Y8013396.16890 or 17.96343S, 124.6795E.
(i) [see tabled paper no.]
(j) No.
(k) Not applicable.
(l)Yes.
(m) 834 megalitres in the 2023 calendar year.
(n) Irrigation of pasture.
(o) Northern Australian Pastoral Properties Pty Ltd.
(p) 21 November 2023.
(q) Dr. Bruce Butcher, a representative from Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd, on Thursday, 30 November 2023.
(r)-(t) Information regarding this event relates to the licence operating strategy. Such information is not publicly available under the RIWI Act.
(u)-(w) DWER received photos within the Murdoch University report that was provided on Monday, December 4, 2023. The Minister has received photos of the location in which the event occurred. The photos concerned are contained in the Murdoch University report and as noted at (r)-(t), this has been compiled as part of the operating strategy by the licensee.
(x) No.
(y) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has been advised and has primary responsibility for threatened species listing and management in Western Australia.
(z)-(aa) The Fitzroy River Ministerial Council has not convened since the event.
(bb) Not applicable.
(cc) Not applicable.
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