❓ Mr Britza inquires about consultation on the Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2015. Minister Jacob responds, highlighting extensive past consultation and criticising the Labor Party's inaction on the issue, while defending the current government's commitment to the bill.
AnsweredQoN 147Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION BILL 2015 —
CONSULTATION
147. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the Minister for
Environment:
I look forward to the Biodiversity
Conservation Bill 2015 being debated in Parliament this year. Could the
minister please update the house on the consultation taken prior to the bill
being introduced to this place?
CONSULTATION
147. Mr I.M. BRITZA to the Minister for
Environment:
I look forward to the Biodiversity
Conservation Bill 2015 being debated in Parliament this year. Could the
minister please update the house on the consultation taken prior to the bill
being introduced to this place?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Morley for
the question. For a bit of context, the Western Australian Wildlife
Conservation Act is an act of 1950 and, at 66 years old, forms the oldest piece
of biodiversity conservation legislation in Australia. I think we can all agree
that the legislation is woefully out of date. Picking up on the member's
comment about consultation, it is interesting to note that replacement of this
act has been a commitment of successive governments going back to the late
1980s and early 1990s, particularly Labor governments. They never delivered an
outcome, but certainly there was a commitment.
Mr
C.J. Barnett interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : As the Premier says, it was a broken promise of most Labor
governments in my lifetime, if we want to look at it that way. More than 20
years of consultation has gone into the preparation of this bill.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : We do not tear up the consultation, member for Gosnells. There
were green bills and there were consultation rounds going all the way back.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Here we go again! Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the
first time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : That consultation formed the foundation of this bill, and I was
able to table the bill in this place late last year within three years of
coming into government.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I am surprised to get the yelling, considering how often this
was a broken promise from the Labor Party. Picking up on the member for
Gosnells' interjections, yes, I have offered comprehensive briefings.
In fact, my very first meeting in January this year was with most interested
groups. We provided briefings with the drafters and we continue to offer
briefings and opportunities to discuss the bill.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, do you want to have a rest? You are now on
two and a half. I am not going to call you a third time. If you do it again a third
time, you are out.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : It is a classic. After something has been consulted for 20 years,
do we have to consult it for another 20 years before the Liberal Party can
bring it in? No, the Liberal Party takes action. The Liberal Party and the
National Party deliver on their election commitments.
Several members interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : This was an election commitment, and this is being delivered.
That is how you do proper government.
Ms
L.L. Baker interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Maylands!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : The Wildlife Conservation Act is woefully out of date. Every
single measure in this new bill enhances our ability to manage and protect
biodiversity in Western Australia above and beyond the existing Wildlife
Conservation Act. We will not abandon this bill nor our election commitment to
support this bill. We will not be putting it in the too-hard basket. This bill
is far too important and far too overdue to indulge in the petty politicking of
the jealous ALP and its various activist allies.
the question. For a bit of context, the Western Australian Wildlife
Conservation Act is an act of 1950 and, at 66 years old, forms the oldest piece
of biodiversity conservation legislation in Australia. I think we can all agree
that the legislation is woefully out of date. Picking up on the member's
comment about consultation, it is interesting to note that replacement of this
act has been a commitment of successive governments going back to the late
1980s and early 1990s, particularly Labor governments. They never delivered an
outcome, but certainly there was a commitment.
Mr
C.J. Barnett interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : As the Premier says, it was a broken promise of most Labor
governments in my lifetime, if we want to look at it that way. More than 20
years of consultation has gone into the preparation of this bill.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : We do not tear up the consultation, member for Gosnells. There
were green bills and there were consultation rounds going all the way back.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Here we go again! Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the
first time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : That consultation formed the foundation of this bill, and I was
able to table the bill in this place late last year within three years of
coming into government.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I am surprised to get the yelling, considering how often this
was a broken promise from the Labor Party. Picking up on the member for
Gosnells' interjections, yes, I have offered comprehensive briefings.
In fact, my very first meeting in January this year was with most interested
groups. We provided briefings with the drafters and we continue to offer
briefings and opportunities to discuss the bill.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Gosnells, do you want to have a rest? You are now on
two and a half. I am not going to call you a third time. If you do it again a third
time, you are out.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : It is a classic. After something has been consulted for 20 years,
do we have to consult it for another 20 years before the Liberal Party can
bring it in? No, the Liberal Party takes action. The Liberal Party and the
National Party deliver on their election commitments.
Several members interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : This was an election commitment, and this is being delivered.
That is how you do proper government.
Ms
L.L. Baker interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Maylands!
Mr
A.P. JACOB : The Wildlife Conservation Act is woefully out of date. Every
single measure in this new bill enhances our ability to manage and protect
biodiversity in Western Australia above and beyond the existing Wildlife
Conservation Act. We will not abandon this bill nor our election commitment to
support this bill. We will not be putting it in the too-hard basket. This bill
is far too important and far too overdue to indulge in the petty politicking of
the jealous ALP and its various activist allies.
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