❓ Mr Grylls questions the delay in signing the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for the national action plan on salinity and water quality and seeks clarity on when land care groups will access Commonwealth funding. The Minister's response outlines ongoing negotiations and a commitment to expedite the process.
AnsweredQoN 957Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the national action plan on salinity and water quality and the minister’s statement to the House on 12 March in which she said that she hoped the intergovernmental agreement would be signed before or, at the very latest, at a meeting of the federal Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart on 1 May. (1) Why was the IGA not signed at the ministerial council meeting? (2) Which minister should the Western Australian land care community believe regarding when this agreement will be signed, given that the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released a media statement on Monday in which he said that following that meeting an announcement was imminent? (3) When will the Government provide land care groups in regional Western Australia with access to the $158 million of commonwealth funding? Dr EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
(1) Why was the IGA not signed at the ministerial council meeting? (2) Which minister should the Western Australian land care community believe regarding when this agreement will be signed, given that the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released a media statement on Monday in which he said that following that meeting an announcement was imminent? (3) When will the Government provide land care groups in regional Western Australia with access to the $158 million of commonwealth funding? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
(2) Which minister should the Western Australian land care community believe regarding when this agreement will be signed, given that the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released a media statement on Monday in which he said that following that meeting an announcement was imminent? (3) When will the Government provide land care groups in regional Western Australia with access to the $158 million of commonwealth funding? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
(3) When will the Government provide land care groups in regional Western Australia with access to the $158 million of commonwealth funding? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
(1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
(1) Why was the IGA not signed at the ministerial council meeting? (2) Which minister should the Western Australian land care community believe regarding when this agreement will be signed, given that the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released a media statement on Monday in which he said that following that meeting an announcement was imminent? (3) When will the Government provide land care groups in regional Western Australia with access to the $158 million of commonwealth funding? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
(2) Which minister should the Western Australian land care community believe regarding when this agreement will be signed, given that the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released a media statement on Monday in which he said that following that meeting an announcement was imminent? (3) When will the Government provide land care groups in regional Western Australia with access to the $158 million of commonwealth funding? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
(3) When will the Government provide land care groups in regional Western Australia with access to the $158 million of commonwealth funding? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
(1)-(3) As he has pointed out, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and I attended the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in Hobart last week. As part of that I had a very productive meeting with Minister Kemp, the federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage. We had been waiting on correspondence from Minister Kemp since 15 March. Unfortunately that correspondence has not yet been responded to. However, he and I agreed that Western Australia should immediately sign the intergovernmental agreement for the national action plan on salinity and water quality. We further agreed that he would make that recommendation to the Prime Minister and that I would make that recommendation to our Premier, which I did in Cabinet on Monday. Minister Kemp and I then determined that in proceeding with the signing of the IGA, we would resolve the couple of outstanding issues and the practical detail, in the bilateral agreements, from which the money will flow. On Monday I instructed my chief executive officers to immediately draw up the documentation and to continue discussions with the federal officers so that the money is released as soon as possible. I was happy with Minister Kemp’s attitude, when I finally met him. We found much common ground, particularly in our concern for regional communities. I look forward to working with him on the national action plan. When I met with Minister Kemp prior to the NRM Ministerial Council meeting I made it very clear to him that no State was in any position to match Natural Heritage Trust funds. That obviously had some ramifications because the Commonwealth then shifted its position. We had further debate in the council meetings, the upshot of which was to shift away from saying “new money”. The Commonwealth is still talking about “matching” but it is concentrating on matching in regional areas. It is now shifting and I am confident that it will accept that the State’s matching can include in-kind matching. We pointed out that in this State, natural resource management spending by government agencies is around $144 million each year. On this issue also I have instructed my officers, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to meet with the federal officials and to get projects rolling as quickly as possible. We will shortly get access to the Envirofund, which is the first part of the NHT funding. The State made a decision at the cabinet standing committee meeting to implement all the infrastructure we need so that Western Australia can sign up to that quickly. Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
Our meeting had a good outcome. I look forward to the Premier and the Prime Minister delivering an even better outcome very shortly.
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