❓ Hon. P.G. Pendal questions the Premier regarding WA's efforts to address salinity at Premiers' Conferences, referencing a 1993 coalition policy. The Premier details WA's ongoing commitment and investment in salinity management, including agreements with the Commonwealth and the State Salinity Strategy.
AnsweredQoN 843Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
843. Hon. P.G. PENDAL to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's statement quoted in The Countryman of 12 October 2000, that Federal Parliament tended "...to concentrate on the Murray-Darling type issues" relating to salinity and ask -
(a) does the Premier recall the 1993 coalition environment policy relating to salinity promised to focus "...national attention on this all-important area by having the Premier's Conference confront the problem...";
(b) will the Premier specify what in relation to salinity, and on what dates, the Western Australian Government placed before the Premiers' Conferences in the past seven years; and
(c) what, if any, outcome has resulted?
I refer to the Premier's statement quoted in The Countryman of 12 October 2000, that Federal Parliament tended "...to concentrate on the Murray-Darling type issues" relating to salinity and ask -
(a) does the Premier recall the 1993 coalition environment policy relating to salinity promised to focus "...national attention on this all-important area by having the Premier's Conference confront the problem...";
(b) will the Premier specify what in relation to salinity, and on what dates, the Western Australian Government placed before the Premiers' Conferences in the past seven years; and
(c) what, if any, outcome has resulted?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 November 2000
Response time
36 days
The Minister Replied:
(a) Yes
(b) & (c) The issue of salinity has been continuously pursued by the Western Australian Government with the Commonwealth Government at every level and at every opportunity. I have raised the issue with other Heads of Government and in particular with the Prime Minister at national forums and on other occasions. In 1997 the Western Australian Government became the first state to sign an agreement with the Commonwealth for funding under the Natural Heritage Trust. This underlines the importance the Western Australian Government places on protecting its natural assets and tackling environmental problems. Under this agreement the bulk of the funds Western Australia received, some $20 million, went towards projects associated with the State's Salinity Action Plan.
The Western Australian Government's commitment to this issue has always been acknowledged and recently the Commonwealth Agriculture Minister, Mr Warren Truss, praised Western Australia for "always being ahead of the nation in its response to salinity". He also reaffirmed the Commonwealth Government's continued involvement.
In Western Australia an enormous amount of effort has gone into protecting its natural assets and addressing our environmental problems.
In 1996 the Western Australian Government began implementing the 30 year Salinity Action Plan. The Plan is aimed at halting further deterioration of agricultural land, protecting rural infrastructure, water resources and wetlands, and maintaining biodiversity. In April this year the Western Australian Government released the State Salinity Strategy, which builds upon the foundations of the Salinity Action Plan. The State Salinity Strategy was developed in partnership with the community and is endorsed and owned by the community and the State Government.
Western Australia has spent well over $160m on salinity and currently spends the greatest amount per capita than any other jurisdiction in Australia. At present the Western Australian Government invests over $40m per year in salinity mitigation projects including biodiversity conservation, water resource recovery, commercial farm forestry, native vegetation management and revegetation and knowledge building. In addition the community contribution of around $200m per annum reflects the importance our community places on salinity control.
At the COAG meeting of 3 November 2000, the Western Australian Government committed to a national approach to tackling salinity and deteriorating water quality. This will involve the development of an overarching Inter-Government Agreement by December 2000, and a bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth in which WA will negotiate a share of $700m of Commonwealth funds to which the Western Australian Government will provide matching funds.
(a) Yes
(b) & (c) The issue of salinity has been continuously pursued by the Western Australian Government with the Commonwealth Government at every level and at every opportunity. I have raised the issue with other Heads of Government and in particular with the Prime Minister at national forums and on other occasions. In 1997 the Western Australian Government became the first state to sign an agreement with the Commonwealth for funding under the Natural Heritage Trust. This underlines the importance the Western Australian Government places on protecting its natural assets and tackling environmental problems. Under this agreement the bulk of the funds Western Australia received, some $20 million, went towards projects associated with the State's Salinity Action Plan.
The Western Australian Government's commitment to this issue has always been acknowledged and recently the Commonwealth Agriculture Minister, Mr Warren Truss, praised Western Australia for "always being ahead of the nation in its response to salinity". He also reaffirmed the Commonwealth Government's continued involvement.
In Western Australia an enormous amount of effort has gone into protecting its natural assets and addressing our environmental problems.
In 1996 the Western Australian Government began implementing the 30 year Salinity Action Plan. The Plan is aimed at halting further deterioration of agricultural land, protecting rural infrastructure, water resources and wetlands, and maintaining biodiversity. In April this year the Western Australian Government released the State Salinity Strategy, which builds upon the foundations of the Salinity Action Plan. The State Salinity Strategy was developed in partnership with the community and is endorsed and owned by the community and the State Government.
Western Australia has spent well over $160m on salinity and currently spends the greatest amount per capita than any other jurisdiction in Australia. At present the Western Australian Government invests over $40m per year in salinity mitigation projects including biodiversity conservation, water resource recovery, commercial farm forestry, native vegetation management and revegetation and knowledge building. In addition the community contribution of around $200m per annum reflects the importance our community places on salinity control.
At the COAG meeting of 3 November 2000, the Western Australian Government committed to a national approach to tackling salinity and deteriorating water quality. This will involve the development of an overarching Inter-Government Agreement by December 2000, and a bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth in which WA will negotiate a share of $700m of Commonwealth funds to which the Western Australian Government will provide matching funds.
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