❓ Hon Christine Sharp questions the Minister for Environment and Heritage regarding the status of the volunteer program at the Western Australian Herbarium, specifically concerning potential closures, cost contributions from volunteers, and the value of their services. The Minister assures the program's continuation and denies volunteers were asked to pay costs.
AnsweredQoN 940Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN HERBARIUM, VOLUNTEERS
(1) Can the minister confirm that the volunteer section of the Western Australian Herbarium has closed, or will do so soon? (2) If not, can the minister confirm that the volunteer section has been scaled down and to what extent? (3) Can the minister confirm that earlier this year, which is the International Year of Volunteers, these volunteers at the state herbarium were asked whether they were prepared to pay costs to avoid closure of the volunteer section of the herbarium because of budget cuts in the Department of Conservation and Land Management? (4) Has the minister costed the services provided free of charge to the State by these volunteers in the identification of wildflowers and weeds? (5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS
(1) Can the minister confirm that the volunteer section of the Western Australian Herbarium has closed, or will do so soon? (2) If not, can the minister confirm that the volunteer section has been scaled down and to what extent? (3) Can the minister confirm that earlier this year, which is the International Year of Volunteers, these volunteers at the state herbarium were asked whether they were prepared to pay costs to avoid closure of the volunteer section of the herbarium because of budget cuts in the Department of Conservation and Land Management? (4) Has the minister costed the services provided free of charge to the State by these volunteers in the identification of wildflowers and weeds? (5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(2) If not, can the minister confirm that the volunteer section has been scaled down and to what extent? (3) Can the minister confirm that earlier this year, which is the International Year of Volunteers, these volunteers at the state herbarium were asked whether they were prepared to pay costs to avoid closure of the volunteer section of the herbarium because of budget cuts in the Department of Conservation and Land Management? (4) Has the minister costed the services provided free of charge to the State by these volunteers in the identification of wildflowers and weeds? (5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(3) Can the minister confirm that earlier this year, which is the International Year of Volunteers, these volunteers at the state herbarium were asked whether they were prepared to pay costs to avoid closure of the volunteer section of the herbarium because of budget cuts in the Department of Conservation and Land Management? (4) Has the minister costed the services provided free of charge to the State by these volunteers in the identification of wildflowers and weeds? (5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(4) Has the minister costed the services provided free of charge to the State by these volunteers in the identification of wildflowers and weeds? (5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(2) If not, can the minister confirm that the volunteer section has been scaled down and to what extent? (3) Can the minister confirm that earlier this year, which is the International Year of Volunteers, these volunteers at the state herbarium were asked whether they were prepared to pay costs to avoid closure of the volunteer section of the herbarium because of budget cuts in the Department of Conservation and Land Management? (4) Has the minister costed the services provided free of charge to the State by these volunteers in the identification of wildflowers and weeds? (5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(3) Can the minister confirm that earlier this year, which is the International Year of Volunteers, these volunteers at the state herbarium were asked whether they were prepared to pay costs to avoid closure of the volunteer section of the herbarium because of budget cuts in the Department of Conservation and Land Management? (4) Has the minister costed the services provided free of charge to the State by these volunteers in the identification of wildflowers and weeds? (5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(4) Has the minister costed the services provided free of charge to the State by these volunteers in the identification of wildflowers and weeds? (5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(5) Why does the minister consider these services dispensable? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
By way of preamble, the people of Busselton whom I met with yesterday were fantastic, and the people of Collie I met with were terrific as well. It is a tremendous opportunity and a great privilege to meet with people in these communities. The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister will now be ready to get on to the question asked by Hon Christine Sharp. (1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(1) The volunteer contribution to the Western Australian Herbarium is intended to continue. (2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(2) To date, there has been no scaling down of the volunteer numbers. One of the roles fulfilled by some of volunteers is support of other volunteer projects in regional areas, namely, the regional herbarium network and the weed information network. With the non-renewal of the Natural Heritage Trust funding for these projects by the federal Government, there is a question about whether the present number of volunteers can continue to be catered for, although the herbarium values their contribution. If funding can be found to continue the projects, all current volunteers will be able to be accommodated. (3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(3) No volunteers were asked to pay for costs to avoid closure of the volunteer contribution. (4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(4) The two projects are estimated to have contributed 4 000 plant specimens a year. The full value contributed by volunteers for these specimens for collection, identification, processing, mounting, databasing and shelving is estimated at $172 000. The identification component of this is estimated at $52 000 a year, although it should be noted that professional support is also necessary. Volunteers fill a number of other roles in the herbarium, which substantially increases the estimated contribution of the whole volunteer effort rather than the effort for just these two projects. (5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
(5) The volunteer contribution to the herbarium is not considered dispensable, but rather is highly valued. The department currently has 1 600 active volunteers who make a major contribution to conservation, species protection work and visitor services throughout the State.
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