❓ A parliamentary question regarding the WA government's 2014 shark drum line program and whether the Premier's department sought and acted upon environmental impact advice. The government states they believed a referral to the EPA was unnecessary based on a risk assessment.
AnsweredQoN 907Legislative Council
Asked
10 September 2014
Member
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier
QuestionView source ↗
SHARK DRUM LINE PROGRAM
907. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Leader of the
House representing the Premier:
I refer to the January–April
2014 drum line program.
(1) Did the
Premier or the Department of the Premier and Cabinet receive advice that the
program was likely to be considered a significant proposal as defined under
section 37B(1) of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Act 1986?
(2) If yes to
(1), on what date was that advice received?
(3) Prior to 14
January 2014, did the Premier or the Department of the Premier and Cabinet
receive advice that as the proponent of the drum line program, the department
had an obligation under the EP act to refer the drum line proposal to the
Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority?
(4) Why did the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet omit to refer the program to the EPA
prior to this eventually being done by a third party on 14 January 2014?
907. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Leader of the
House representing the Premier:
I refer to the January–April
2014 drum line program.
(1) Did the
Premier or the Department of the Premier and Cabinet receive advice that the
program was likely to be considered a significant proposal as defined under
section 37B(1) of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Act 1986?
(2) If yes to
(1), on what date was that advice received?
(3) Prior to 14
January 2014, did the Premier or the Department of the Premier and Cabinet
receive advice that as the proponent of the drum line program, the department
had an obligation under the EP act to refer the drum line proposal to the
Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority?
(4) Why did the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet omit to refer the program to the EPA
prior to this eventually being done by a third party on 14 January 2014?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. I answer on behalf of the Leader of the House.
(1) No.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Yes. The
department understood that a referral would be necessary if it was considered
that the program would have a significant environmental impact. Advice received
from the Department of Fisheries risk assessment assessed the trial program as
posing only negligible risks to the three targeted species, most of the
non-target species and the broader ecosystem. It was, therefore, considered
unnecessary to refer the trial program to the EPA. The decision by the EPA
following the third-party referral not to assess the program supported the
department's decision that a referral was not necessary.
(4) See (3)
above.
of the question. I answer on behalf of the Leader of the House.
(1) No.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Yes. The
department understood that a referral would be necessary if it was considered
that the program would have a significant environmental impact. Advice received
from the Department of Fisheries risk assessment assessed the trial program as
posing only negligible risks to the three targeted species, most of the
non-target species and the broader ecosystem. It was, therefore, considered
unnecessary to refer the trial program to the EPA. The decision by the EPA
following the third-party referral not to assess the program supported the
department's decision that a referral was not necessary.
(4) See (3)
above.
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