A WA parliamentary question probes the Minister for Environment and Heritage regarding proposed legislation on environmental weeds and pests, focusing on regional considerations, local government authority, and economic impacts on farmers. The Minister assures consideration of these factors during legislation development.

AnsweredQoN 1327Legislative Assembly
Asked
9 April 2003
Portfolio
the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

(b) regarding the identification of ‘key threatening processes’ and the Minister’s subsequent power to ‘make orders for the eradication, reduction or containment of environmental weeds and pests’ - (i) considering the diversity of Western Australia’s regions and their varying environmental factors, will the Minister guarantee that any such decision will be made with thorough consideration of the specific environment in question; and (ii) will the decisions of the Minister override the decisions of the Shire Councils, who may be more familiar with the needs and vulnerability’s of their regions than the Minister; and (c) will the Minister indicate the extent to which the economic realities faced by farmers will be compromised by the commitment to the protection of biodiversity?
(ii) will the decisions of the Minister override the decisions of the Shire Councils, who may be more familiar with the needs and vulnerability’s of their regions than the Minister; and
(b)(i)-(iii) These are matters to be considered in the development of the proposed legislation. I will take into account public input and the practicalities of enforcing any proposed requirements in the development of the legislation. (c) The legislation will have its focus of protecting biodiversity in a sustainably managed landscape, taking account of land uses including farming, fishing, mining and tourism.
(c) The legislation will have its focus of protecting biodiversity in a sustainably managed landscape, taking account of land uses including farming, fishing, mining and tourism.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
3 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
55 days
(a) Yes, except where respondents have requested their comments be confidential.
(b)(i)-(iii) These are matters to be considered in the development of the proposed legislation. I will take into account public input and the practicalities of enforcing any proposed requirements in the development of the legislation.
(c) The legislation will have its focus of protecting biodiversity in a sustainably managed landscape, taking account of land uses including farming, fishing, mining and tourism.

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