❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Environment regarding the removal of greenhouse gas abatement conditions for the Browse LNG precinct, specifically asking about advice received on the complementarity of WA's conditions with federal legislation and the rationale behind the decision.
AnsweredQoN 953Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BROWSE LNG
PRECINCT — GREENHOUSE GAS ABATEMENT PLAN
953. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the minister's recent determination on
appeals against the report and recommendations of the Environmental Protection
Authority relating to the Browse liquefied natural gas precinct, dated 30
October, including the amendment to condition 22, which required the proponent
to prepare a greenhouse gas abatement plan.
(1) Did the
Department of Environment and Conservation prepare advice for the Minister for
Environment concerning the complementarity, or otherwise, of greenhouse gas
abatement conditions on large-scale LNG developments in Western Australia with
the federal government's clean energy future legislative package?
(2) If yes to
(1), will the minister please table such advice as has been generated
concerning the complementarity of greenhouse gas abatement conditions on
large-scale LNG developments?
(3) Will the
minister please describe the process by which advice concerning the
complementarity of the greenhouse gas abatement conditions was generated by
officers of his department or other government departments, or third-party
contractors?
(4) Will the
minister please provide an explanation for his decision to remove greenhouse
gas abatement conditions on the Browse LNG precinct development and to amend
condition 22 to require only annual reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from
the proposed LNG plant, against the advice of both the Environmental Protection
Authority and the Appeals Convenor, Dr Roy Green?
PRECINCT — GREENHOUSE GAS ABATEMENT PLAN
953. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the minister's recent determination on
appeals against the report and recommendations of the Environmental Protection
Authority relating to the Browse liquefied natural gas precinct, dated 30
October, including the amendment to condition 22, which required the proponent
to prepare a greenhouse gas abatement plan.
(1) Did the
Department of Environment and Conservation prepare advice for the Minister for
Environment concerning the complementarity, or otherwise, of greenhouse gas
abatement conditions on large-scale LNG developments in Western Australia with
the federal government's clean energy future legislative package?
(2) If yes to
(1), will the minister please table such advice as has been generated
concerning the complementarity of greenhouse gas abatement conditions on
large-scale LNG developments?
(3) Will the
minister please describe the process by which advice concerning the
complementarity of the greenhouse gas abatement conditions was generated by
officers of his department or other government departments, or third-party
contractors?
(4) Will the
minister please provide an explanation for his decision to remove greenhouse
gas abatement conditions on the Browse LNG precinct development and to amend
condition 22 to require only annual reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from
the proposed LNG plant, against the advice of both the Environmental Protection
Authority and the Appeals Convenor, Dr Roy Green?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1)–(3)
The Department of Environment and Conservation provided advice to the Environmental
Protection Authority in the course of its assessment of the Browse liquefied
natural gas precinct. The EPA's report to the Minister for Environment—No
1442 of 16 July 2012—represents its advice to the minister. DEC also
provided advice in relation to appeals to the Office of the Environmental
Protection Authority. Western Australia, like other jurisdictions, is
undertaking a complementary measures review and will report to the Council of
Australian Governments. DEC is coordinating Western Australia's review,
which will be subject to cabinet consideration. One of the measures under
review is greenhouse gas mitigation conditions under part IV of the
Environmental Protection Act.
(4) The
Minister for Environment considered matters raised in appeals regarding
proposed condition 22, the appeals committee's report, and advice
provided by the Environmental Protection Authority under section 106(1)(a).
Based on these matters, he considered it appropriate to amend this condition.
It should be noted that the minister is not bound to follow the advice of
either the EPA or the Appeals Committee.
question.
(1)–(3)
The Department of Environment and Conservation provided advice to the Environmental
Protection Authority in the course of its assessment of the Browse liquefied
natural gas precinct. The EPA's report to the Minister for Environment—No
1442 of 16 July 2012—represents its advice to the minister. DEC also
provided advice in relation to appeals to the Office of the Environmental
Protection Authority. Western Australia, like other jurisdictions, is
undertaking a complementary measures review and will report to the Council of
Australian Governments. DEC is coordinating Western Australia's review,
which will be subject to cabinet consideration. One of the measures under
review is greenhouse gas mitigation conditions under part IV of the
Environmental Protection Act.
(4) The
Minister for Environment considered matters raised in appeals regarding
proposed condition 22, the appeals committee's report, and advice
provided by the Environmental Protection Authority under section 106(1)(a).
Based on these matters, he considered it appropriate to amend this condition.
It should be noted that the minister is not bound to follow the advice of
either the EPA or the Appeals Committee.
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