❓ WA Environment Minister responds to concerns about Geoscience Australia's planned undersea explosions off North West Cape and their potential impact on whale migration, seeking assurances and federal government consideration of state environmental laws.
AnsweredQoN 435Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister advise what measures will be put in place to ensure that the proposals by Geoscience Australia to undertake explosions in the waters off the North West Cape will not impact on whales that migrate up and down that part of the coast? Dr J.M. EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question and for his interest in whales. I must say that I was somewhat alarmed to find out about this proposition, which really came to light only through articles in the media - The Australian and The West Australian - earlier this month. We know that Geoscience Australia, a federal government agency, intends to undertake 20 undersea explosions at about 10 locations off the North West Cape. This is a part of looking at undersea acoustic devices, and it is part of Australia’s participation in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. Mr Speaker, I am sure you would be concerned as well. As soon as we saw those articles we contacted Geoscience Australia for more information about the proposal, particularly as the initial reports indicated that it might well be quite close to the Western Australian coast. I am happy with what Geoscience Australia is telling me. I believe we need to undertake these tests, and I understand why it wants to do so. Furthermore, it has assured me that it will look at the environmental conditions very carefully. Obviously, Geoscience Australia must comply with commonwealth acts, and it will look at Western Australian requirements. Geoscience Australia will be particularly mindful of whale migration in that area, which is especially important in that part of the state. I am worried about the commonwealth’s attitude to environmental regulation when such projects are outside the jurisdiction of the state. The commonwealth’s track record on the proposed brickworks on airport bushland leaves a lot to be desired. Geoscience Australia is trying to do the right thing. I call on the federal government to not only oblige us by looking at its own laws, but also to consider state laws and the state Environmental Protection Act. The federal government should ensure that this important project that is in the national interest considers Western Australia’s environmental interests and protects our environment as well as the environment under commonwealth jurisdiction.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for his question and for his interest in whales. I must say that I was somewhat alarmed to find out about this proposition, which really came to light only through articles in the media - The Australian and The West Australian - earlier this month. We know that Geoscience Australia, a federal government agency, intends to undertake 20 undersea explosions at about 10 locations off the North West Cape. This is a part of looking at undersea acoustic devices, and it is part of Australia’s participation in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. Mr Speaker, I am sure you would be concerned as well. As soon as we saw those articles we contacted Geoscience Australia for more information about the proposal, particularly as the initial reports indicated that it might well be quite close to the Western Australian coast. I am happy with what Geoscience Australia is telling me. I believe we need to undertake these tests, and I understand why it wants to do so. Furthermore, it has assured me that it will look at the environmental conditions very carefully. Obviously, Geoscience Australia must comply with commonwealth acts, and it will look at Western Australian requirements. Geoscience Australia will be particularly mindful of whale migration in that area, which is especially important in that part of the state. I am worried about the commonwealth’s attitude to environmental regulation when such projects are outside the jurisdiction of the state. The commonwealth’s track record on the proposed brickworks on airport bushland leaves a lot to be desired. Geoscience Australia is trying to do the right thing. I call on the federal government to not only oblige us by looking at its own laws, but also to consider state laws and the state Environmental Protection Act. The federal government should ensure that this important project that is in the national interest considers Western Australia’s environmental interests and protects our environment as well as the environment under commonwealth jurisdiction.
I thank the member for his question and for his interest in whales. I must say that I was somewhat alarmed to find out about this proposition, which really came to light only through articles in the media - The Australian and The West Australian - earlier this month. We know that Geoscience Australia, a federal government agency, intends to undertake 20 undersea explosions at about 10 locations off the North West Cape. This is a part of looking at undersea acoustic devices, and it is part of Australia’s participation in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. Mr Speaker, I am sure you would be concerned as well. As soon as we saw those articles we contacted Geoscience Australia for more information about the proposal, particularly as the initial reports indicated that it might well be quite close to the Western Australian coast. I am happy with what Geoscience Australia is telling me. I believe we need to undertake these tests, and I understand why it wants to do so. Furthermore, it has assured me that it will look at the environmental conditions very carefully. Obviously, Geoscience Australia must comply with commonwealth acts, and it will look at Western Australian requirements. Geoscience Australia will be particularly mindful of whale migration in that area, which is especially important in that part of the state. I am worried about the commonwealth’s attitude to environmental regulation when such projects are outside the jurisdiction of the state. The commonwealth’s track record on the proposed brickworks on airport bushland leaves a lot to be desired. Geoscience Australia is trying to do the right thing. I call on the federal government to not only oblige us by looking at its own laws, but also to consider state laws and the state Environmental Protection Act. The federal government should ensure that this important project that is in the national interest considers Western Australia’s environmental interests and protects our environment as well as the environment under commonwealth jurisdiction.
I am worried about the commonwealth’s attitude to environmental regulation when such projects are outside the jurisdiction of the state. The commonwealth’s track record on the proposed brickworks on airport bushland leaves a lot to be desired. Geoscience Australia is trying to do the right thing. I call on the federal government to not only oblige us by looking at its own laws, but also to consider state laws and the state Environmental Protection Act. The federal government should ensure that this important project that is in the national interest considers Western Australia’s environmental interests and protects our environment as well as the environment under commonwealth jurisdiction.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for his question and for his interest in whales. I must say that I was somewhat alarmed to find out about this proposition, which really came to light only through articles in the media - The Australian and The West Australian - earlier this month. We know that Geoscience Australia, a federal government agency, intends to undertake 20 undersea explosions at about 10 locations off the North West Cape. This is a part of looking at undersea acoustic devices, and it is part of Australia’s participation in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. Mr Speaker, I am sure you would be concerned as well. As soon as we saw those articles we contacted Geoscience Australia for more information about the proposal, particularly as the initial reports indicated that it might well be quite close to the Western Australian coast. I am happy with what Geoscience Australia is telling me. I believe we need to undertake these tests, and I understand why it wants to do so. Furthermore, it has assured me that it will look at the environmental conditions very carefully. Obviously, Geoscience Australia must comply with commonwealth acts, and it will look at Western Australian requirements. Geoscience Australia will be particularly mindful of whale migration in that area, which is especially important in that part of the state. I am worried about the commonwealth’s attitude to environmental regulation when such projects are outside the jurisdiction of the state. The commonwealth’s track record on the proposed brickworks on airport bushland leaves a lot to be desired. Geoscience Australia is trying to do the right thing. I call on the federal government to not only oblige us by looking at its own laws, but also to consider state laws and the state Environmental Protection Act. The federal government should ensure that this important project that is in the national interest considers Western Australia’s environmental interests and protects our environment as well as the environment under commonwealth jurisdiction.
I thank the member for his question and for his interest in whales. I must say that I was somewhat alarmed to find out about this proposition, which really came to light only through articles in the media - The Australian and The West Australian - earlier this month. We know that Geoscience Australia, a federal government agency, intends to undertake 20 undersea explosions at about 10 locations off the North West Cape. This is a part of looking at undersea acoustic devices, and it is part of Australia’s participation in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. Mr Speaker, I am sure you would be concerned as well. As soon as we saw those articles we contacted Geoscience Australia for more information about the proposal, particularly as the initial reports indicated that it might well be quite close to the Western Australian coast. I am happy with what Geoscience Australia is telling me. I believe we need to undertake these tests, and I understand why it wants to do so. Furthermore, it has assured me that it will look at the environmental conditions very carefully. Obviously, Geoscience Australia must comply with commonwealth acts, and it will look at Western Australian requirements. Geoscience Australia will be particularly mindful of whale migration in that area, which is especially important in that part of the state. I am worried about the commonwealth’s attitude to environmental regulation when such projects are outside the jurisdiction of the state. The commonwealth’s track record on the proposed brickworks on airport bushland leaves a lot to be desired. Geoscience Australia is trying to do the right thing. I call on the federal government to not only oblige us by looking at its own laws, but also to consider state laws and the state Environmental Protection Act. The federal government should ensure that this important project that is in the national interest considers Western Australia’s environmental interests and protects our environment as well as the environment under commonwealth jurisdiction.
I am worried about the commonwealth’s attitude to environmental regulation when such projects are outside the jurisdiction of the state. The commonwealth’s track record on the proposed brickworks on airport bushland leaves a lot to be desired. Geoscience Australia is trying to do the right thing. I call on the federal government to not only oblige us by looking at its own laws, but also to consider state laws and the state Environmental Protection Act. The federal government should ensure that this important project that is in the national interest considers Western Australia’s environmental interests and protects our environment as well as the environment under commonwealth jurisdiction.
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