❓ Mr. Tallentire questions the Minister for Environment regarding the potential environmental and health impacts of exporting nickel and copper concentrate through Esperance port. The Minister acknowledges the letter but hasn't reviewed it yet, assuring the proposal will undergo environmental assessment.
AnsweredQoN 504Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ESPERANCE PORT — NICKEL AND COPPER CONCENTRATE
EXPORT
504. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister
for Environment:
I refer to the letter the minister
received from the community group Locals for Esperance Development dated 6 June
2015 regarding a proposal to export 220 000 tonnes of nickel concentrate and 50
000 tonnes of copper concentrate through the port of Esperance each year for 10
years using an open loading system.
(1) Is it true that nickel and
nickel compounds are class 1 carcinogens when inhaled?
(2) Is it also
true that soluble copper, like the copper concentrate to be exported, is highly
toxic to aquatic organisms and can concentrate in the food chain?
(3) Has the
minister met with or spoken to the Locals for Esperance Development to address
their concerns?
Mr W.R. Marmion : Not as bad as lead!
EXPORT
504. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister
for Environment:
I refer to the letter the minister
received from the community group Locals for Esperance Development dated 6 June
2015 regarding a proposal to export 220 000 tonnes of nickel concentrate and 50
000 tonnes of copper concentrate through the port of Esperance each year for 10
years using an open loading system.
(1) Is it true that nickel and
nickel compounds are class 1 carcinogens when inhaled?
(2) Is it also
true that soluble copper, like the copper concentrate to be exported, is highly
toxic to aquatic organisms and can concentrate in the food chain?
(3) Has the
minister met with or spoken to the Locals for Esperance Development to address
their concerns?
Mr W.R. Marmion : Not as bad as lead!
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) It is not as bad as
lead; I thank the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
Mr
P.T. Miles interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Without going too far into that specific issue, the member for Gosnells
asked an incredibly specific question. He refers to a letter that he said was
sent to us on 6 June. That letter has not yet come to my direct attention; we
have been focusing on estimates and other budget matters for the past week.
However, as with any proposal, it will be required to go through the full
assessment process, and potentially be referred to the Environmental Protection
Authority for a decision on a level of assessment there; and, if not, it will
go through part V of the Environmental Protection Act through the Department of
Environment Regulation or regulator to the appropriate level. The last question
the member for Gosnells asked me in this house was similarly very specific and
again related to a letter from a third party. Interestingly, I looked at it
and, as it turned out, it related to a letter I had received from maybe the
member for Gosnells' colleague in the upper house Hon Robin Chapple . When I
investigated that further, I had not received a letter from the member for
Gosnells himself.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : When I investigated the issue further, it turned out to be
entirely unfounded. We are referring to a letter that I understand was sent
less than two weeks ago—potentially 12 days ago—and I will look
into it further.
lead; I thank the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
Mr
P.T. Miles interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Without going too far into that specific issue, the member for Gosnells
asked an incredibly specific question. He refers to a letter that he said was
sent to us on 6 June. That letter has not yet come to my direct attention; we
have been focusing on estimates and other budget matters for the past week.
However, as with any proposal, it will be required to go through the full
assessment process, and potentially be referred to the Environmental Protection
Authority for a decision on a level of assessment there; and, if not, it will
go through part V of the Environmental Protection Act through the Department of
Environment Regulation or regulator to the appropriate level. The last question
the member for Gosnells asked me in this house was similarly very specific and
again related to a letter from a third party. Interestingly, I looked at it
and, as it turned out, it related to a letter I had received from maybe the
member for Gosnells' colleague in the upper house Hon Robin Chapple . When I
investigated that further, I had not received a letter from the member for
Gosnells himself.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : When I investigated the issue further, it turned out to be
entirely unfounded. We are referring to a letter that I understand was sent
less than two weeks ago—potentially 12 days ago—and I will look
into it further.
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