❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the government on its updated response to the impact of increased bushfire intensity on air quality due to climate change, the process for issuing health warnings, and how health services will respond to worsening air quality. The response outlines inter-departmental collaboration and existing health warning protocols.
AnsweredQoN 1362Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH —
CLIMATE CHANGE
1362. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to question without notice
752, asked on 11 August 2015, in which the Minister for Health stated that the
government has updated its response to particular threats from climate change.
(1) Would the
minister please provide details on how the government has updated its response
to the impact on air quality from the increased intensity of bushfires due to
climate change?
(2) What is
the formal process for issuing health warnings due to the smoke haze caused by
bushfires?
(3) How will health services respond to worsening air quality?
CLIMATE CHANGE
1362. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to question without notice
752, asked on 11 August 2015, in which the Minister for Health stated that the
government has updated its response to particular threats from climate change.
(1) Would the
minister please provide details on how the government has updated its response
to the impact on air quality from the increased intensity of bushfires due to
climate change?
(2) What is
the formal process for issuing health warnings due to the smoke haze caused by
bushfires?
(3) How will health services respond to worsening air quality?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question. On behalf of the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health, who is absent on urgent parliamentary
business, I provide the following information.
(1)–(3) The
Department of Health works closely with the Department of Parks and Wildlife
and the Department of Environment Regulation in this regard. The Department of
Health has developed health warnings, which the Department of Parks and
Wildlife, as the lead agency, can issue in advance of prescribed burns or
during bushfires. The Department of Health will also issue public health
warnings to affected communities when advised by the Department of Environment
Regulation that air quality guidelines for fine particles have been exceeded
for 24 hours. Air quality may be temporarily reduced during a haze or smoke
event. However, it is the overall standard of air quality that is the major
health determinant.
some notice of this question. On behalf of the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health, who is absent on urgent parliamentary
business, I provide the following information.
(1)–(3) The
Department of Health works closely with the Department of Parks and Wildlife
and the Department of Environment Regulation in this regard. The Department of
Health has developed health warnings, which the Department of Parks and
Wildlife, as the lead agency, can issue in advance of prescribed burns or
during bushfires. The Department of Health will also issue public health
warnings to affected communities when advised by the Department of Environment
Regulation that air quality guidelines for fine particles have been exceeded
for 24 hours. Air quality may be temporarily reduced during a haze or smoke
event. However, it is the overall standard of air quality that is the major
health determinant.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.