❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice reveals significant underperformance in environmental audits by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, highlighting staffing issues and cost discrepancies.
AnsweredQoN 1408Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION — ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS
1408. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Environment :
I refer to page 182 of the 2023–24
annual report of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, which
shows the number and cost of completed compliance orders set under ministerial
approval.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that only 15 per cent of the target number of 60 environmental
orders were completed in 2023–24 and that simple maths tells us that
represents only nine audits?
(2) Can the
minister also confirm that when the apparent 23 audits that were commenced in
2023–24 but not completed are added to the nine completed ones, the
department managed only 32 environmental audits, representing half of the
target of 60?
(3) Given the
annual report blames staff movements for the problem, how many staff tasked
with this compliance were present at the start and at the end of the 2023–24
financial year and how many left the department during that period?
(4) Can the
minister also confirm that the target cost for each environmental audit
completed in 2023–24 was set at $37 574 but the actual average cost was
an astounding $336 373?
(5) What
percentage of the total audit costs were paid by proponents in 2023–24?
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION — ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS
1408. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Environment :
I refer to page 182 of the 2023–24
annual report of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, which
shows the number and cost of completed compliance orders set under ministerial
approval.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that only 15 per cent of the target number of 60 environmental
orders were completed in 2023–24 and that simple maths tells us that
represents only nine audits?
(2) Can the
minister also confirm that when the apparent 23 audits that were commenced in
2023–24 but not completed are added to the nine completed ones, the
department managed only 32 environmental audits, representing half of the
target of 60?
(3) Given the
annual report blames staff movements for the problem, how many staff tasked
with this compliance were present at the start and at the end of the 2023–24
financial year and how many left the department during that period?
(4) Can the
minister also confirm that the target cost for each environmental audit
completed in 2023–24 was set at $37 574 but the actual average cost was
an astounding $336 373?
(5) What
percentage of the total audit costs were paid by proponents in 2023–24?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the parliamentary secretary
representing. I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for
Environment.
(1)–(2) Yes.
(3) The
regulatory assurance area had 27 staff at the start of the 2023–24
financial year and 27 staff at the end the 2023–24 financial year. Four
staff from this area left the department in 2023–24.
(4) The target
cost was $37 574. The average cost of each audit was not $336 373.
(5) The fees
recovered under the environmental protection cost recovery regulations 2021 are
not attributed to audit costs only. For the
2023–24 financial year, the department invoiced annual compliance fees
totalling approximately $2 439 500.
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the parliamentary secretary
representing. I provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for
Environment.
(1)–(2) Yes.
(3) The
regulatory assurance area had 27 staff at the start of the 2023–24
financial year and 27 staff at the end the 2023–24 financial year. Four
staff from this area left the department in 2023–24.
(4) The target
cost was $37 574. The average cost of each audit was not $336 373.
(5) The fees
recovered under the environmental protection cost recovery regulations 2021 are
not attributed to audit costs only. For the
2023–24 financial year, the department invoiced annual compliance fees
totalling approximately $2 439 500.
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