❓ Hon. Neil Thomson questions the Minister for Lands regarding delays in approving carbon farming proposals, highlighting the potential carbon sequestration benefits and raising concerns about the eligible interest holder consent requirement. The Minister's response points to Commonwealth legislation as the source of the consent requirement and highlights existing support mechanisms.
AnsweredQoN 1533Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LANDS — CARBON FARMING APPROVALS
1533. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Lands:
I refer to the minister's
answer to question 1461 asked on 15 November 2023 that showed there are
currently 18 carbon farming proposals registered but not yet approved.
(1) Is the minister aware that approximately 100 000
tonnes of carbon could be sequestered every year for every pastoral
station that gains approval, equivalent to taking 21 000 cars off the road per
pastoral station?
(2) If yes to (1), why are these 18
proposals being held up?
(3) When did the
state introduce a requirement for pastoralists to have eligible interest holder
consent?
(4) For (3), what legislative or
regulatory mechanism gave effect to that requirement?
(5) Is the
minister aware that the requirement to include eligible interest holder consent
without any time limit or support being
provided is creating enormous frustration for those who are seeking approval,
putting at risk carbon offsets for almost 400 000 motor vehicles or 15 per
cent of Western Australia's motor vehicle fleet?
1533. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Lands:
I refer to the minister's
answer to question 1461 asked on 15 November 2023 that showed there are
currently 18 carbon farming proposals registered but not yet approved.
(1) Is the minister aware that approximately 100 000
tonnes of carbon could be sequestered every year for every pastoral
station that gains approval, equivalent to taking 21 000 cars off the road per
pastoral station?
(2) If yes to (1), why are these 18
proposals being held up?
(3) When did the
state introduce a requirement for pastoralists to have eligible interest holder
consent?
(4) For (3), what legislative or
regulatory mechanism gave effect to that requirement?
(5) Is the
minister aware that the requirement to include eligible interest holder consent
without any time limit or support being
provided is creating enormous frustration for those who are seeking approval,
putting at risk carbon offsets for almost 400 000 motor vehicles or 15 per
cent of Western Australia's motor vehicle fleet?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Lands.
(1)–(5) State
eligible interest holder consent is a requirement under commonwealth
legislation. As previously advised, a standalone policy and an assessment
framework are in place to support the state's eligible interest holder consent approvals process, and the
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage encourages carbon proponents
to seek consent at the earliest possible stage.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Lands.
(1)–(5) State
eligible interest holder consent is a requirement under commonwealth
legislation. As previously advised, a standalone policy and an assessment
framework are in place to support the state's eligible interest holder consent approvals process, and the
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage encourages carbon proponents
to seek consent at the earliest possible stage.
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