❓ A member of parliament questions the Labor government's decision to not implement the Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands Environmental Protection Policy (EPP), inquiring about the rationale behind it and the existing protections for wetlands. The Minister defends the decision, stating existing protections are sufficient.
AnsweredQoN 625Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SWAN COASTAL PLAIN WETLANDS
The Labor government has promised at two successive elections to help protect the few remaining wetlands on the Swan coastal plain, both on government-owned land through agencies such as LandCorp, and on privately-owned land. (1) Why has the Labor government reneged on election promises, and misled the community on the progress of the “Draft Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain) Policy”? (2) What statutory protection for wetlands now exists since the draft? (3) Does the minister agree that proactive statutory regulation is the best way to ensure precious conservation category wetlands are protected for future generations? (4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
The Labor government has promised at two successive elections to help protect the few remaining wetlands on the Swan coastal plain, both on government-owned land through agencies such as LandCorp, and on privately-owned land. (1) Why has the Labor government reneged on election promises, and misled the community on the progress of the “Draft Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain) Policy”? (2) What statutory protection for wetlands now exists since the draft? (3) Does the minister agree that proactive statutory regulation is the best way to ensure precious conservation category wetlands are protected for future generations? (4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(1) Why has the Labor government reneged on election promises, and misled the community on the progress of the “Draft Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain) Policy”? (2) What statutory protection for wetlands now exists since the draft? (3) Does the minister agree that proactive statutory regulation is the best way to ensure precious conservation category wetlands are protected for future generations? (4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(2) What statutory protection for wetlands now exists since the draft? (3) Does the minister agree that proactive statutory regulation is the best way to ensure precious conservation category wetlands are protected for future generations? (4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(3) Does the minister agree that proactive statutory regulation is the best way to ensure precious conservation category wetlands are protected for future generations? (4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(1) Why has the Labor government reneged on election promises, and misled the community on the progress of the “Draft Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain) Policy”? (2) What statutory protection for wetlands now exists since the draft? (3) Does the minister agree that proactive statutory regulation is the best way to ensure precious conservation category wetlands are protected for future generations? (4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(2) What statutory protection for wetlands now exists since the draft? (3) Does the minister agree that proactive statutory regulation is the best way to ensure precious conservation category wetlands are protected for future generations? (4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(3) Does the minister agree that proactive statutory regulation is the best way to ensure precious conservation category wetlands are protected for future generations? (4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(4) Why did the minister and cabinet go against EPA advice and refuse to implement the Swan coastal plain wetlands EPP? (5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(5) What government agency advice convinced the minister to take this course of action to drop the wetlands EPP after 10 years of promises and government agency consultation? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(1) The government has concluded that existing protection mechanisms for wetlands are robust and comprehensive. (2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(2) There are a number of existing statutory mechanisms under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 including the “Environmental Protection (Swan Coastal Plain Lakes) Policy”; the offence of environmental harm; the offence of pollution; clearing controls for native vegetation; approvals following environmental impact assessment of proposals and planning schemes; works approvals and licences; and unauthorised discharge regulations. (3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(3) Yes. This is the intent behind protecting wetlands through environmental approvals processes. (4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(4) See (1). (5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
(5) The decision on the wetlands EPP was a decision made by the government.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.