❓ Hon. Norman Moore questions Hon. Tom Stephens on his support for the Mauds Landing development proposal. Hon. Stephens avoids a direct answer, citing the ongoing EPA process and the inappropriateness of ministerial comment outside of that framework.
AnsweredQoN 303Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I commend the minister on his reported endeavours to boost the economy of the Gascoyne region, especially through tourism. (1) Does the minister support the Mauds Landing development proposal? (2) If so, what is he doing to convince his colleagues to support the project? (3) If he does not support the project, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
(1) Does the minister support the Mauds Landing development proposal? (2) If so, what is he doing to convince his colleagues to support the project? (3) If he does not support the project, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
(2) If so, what is he doing to convince his colleagues to support the project? (3) If he does not support the project, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
(3) If he does not support the project, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
(1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
(1) Does the minister support the Mauds Landing development proposal? (2) If so, what is he doing to convince his colleagues to support the project? (3) If he does not support the project, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
(2) If so, what is he doing to convince his colleagues to support the project? (3) If he does not support the project, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
(3) If he does not support the project, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
(1)-(3) The Leader of the Opposition would know that consideration of the Mauds Landing proposal will go through a process that begins with the consideration of the Environmental Protection Authority bulletin. That is a public process that in the first instance gives people the chance to comment. That process will conclude at the end of this week. There is then the opportunity for the state minister with responsibility for that body to appoint an appeals convener. A convener would prepare a report and recommendations to that minister. I believe it would be inappropriate for any minister to express a view on this issue outside that statutory framework. That is my instinct and assessment of the law. Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
Hon Norman Moore: You’re allowed to have a personal opinion. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Although I appreciate the view of the Leader of the Opposition, that is the best and safest way for me to proceed. I am on record about these issues to this point.
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