❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the employment status of a Department of Environmental Protection employee and concerns about the Department's handling of previous questions related to a tailings dam issue. The Minister encourages direct discussion with DEP staff due to the complexity and age of the matter.
AnsweredQoN 803Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice No. 663 of April 9 2003 and the answers provided -
(1) In relation to the answer for part (3) given that the Minister has not made it clear whether Mr Peter Skitmore has left the Department can the Minister now state whether this employee has left the Department or is still employed?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Is the Minister and the Department attempting to cover up serious concerns raised in questions on notice numbers 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392 of March 4 2003?
(4) If no to (3), will the Minister simply request that the Department provide answers to all of these questions without further delay?
(5) If yes to (3), can the Minister explain why?
(6) Can the Minister explain why so much effort and delay has been focused on attempting to avoid the direct questions on the public record in the Parliament with the Minister stating ‘I am providing you with the opportunity to raise your concerns directly with the DEP’ given that I have raised the questions with the Minister in the Parliament on the public record, clearly already clarified with a simple expectation that the Minister would request the Department to provide the answers in a concise, relevant, and free from argument or controversial matter?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(1) In relation to the answer for part (3) given that the Minister has not made it clear whether Mr Peter Skitmore has left the Department can the Minister now state whether this employee has left the Department or is still employed?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Is the Minister and the Department attempting to cover up serious concerns raised in questions on notice numbers 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392 of March 4 2003?
(4) If no to (3), will the Minister simply request that the Department provide answers to all of these questions without further delay?
(5) If yes to (3), can the Minister explain why?
(6) Can the Minister explain why so much effort and delay has been focused on attempting to avoid the direct questions on the public record in the Parliament with the Minister stating ‘I am providing you with the opportunity to raise your concerns directly with the DEP’ given that I have raised the questions with the Minister in the Parliament on the public record, clearly already clarified with a simple expectation that the Minister would request the Department to provide the answers in a concise, relevant, and free from argument or controversial matter?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
29 days
The Minister for Environment and Heritage has provided the following response: (1) Mr Peter Skitmore is still employed by the Department of Environmental Protection. (2) Answered by (1). (3) No. (4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(1) Mr Peter Skitmore is still employed by the Department of Environmental Protection. (2) Answered by (1). (3) No. (4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(2) Answered by (1). (3) No. (4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(3) No. (4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(7) Answered by (6).
(1) Mr Peter Skitmore is still employed by the Department of Environmental Protection. (2) Answered by (1). (3) No. (4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(2) Answered by (1). (3) No. (4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(3) No. (4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(4) Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and complexity of the associated records, I again encourage the Honourable Member to meet with DEP staff to get direct answers to his concerns. (5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(5) Answered by (4). (6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(6) These events occurred over nine years ago, the tailings dam is no longer in use and the DEP is not aware of any current issues concerning groundwater seepage. Also this issue is not a simple one and has been a protracted issue that involves various files and numerous Hansard records. The records include file notes from field visits and interpretations of information (including the videos) provided by the neighbouring tenant. Both the passage of time and the absence of some of the authors of letters makes it difficult to determine the facts of the matter. Therefore I was concerned about diverting resources away from other important licensing and enforcement initiatives. I was hoping that the Honourable Member would also rather not divert the resources of the Department during a period of re-focusing on its core roles. (7) Answered by (6).
(7) Answered by (6).
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