Hon James Hayward asks about the methodology and validity of a Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute survey on native forests, specifically regarding respondent demographics and the survey's scientific merit. The Minister tables the survey report and deflects a request for more detailed postcode data, while a brief, sarcastic exchange occurs between other members.

AnsweredQoN 748Legislative Council
Asked
16 September 2021
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

NATIVE FOREST SURVEY
748. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Western Australian
Biodiversity Science Institute 2021 survey relating to the native forest
industry.
(1) Who was
allowed to complete the online survey, and how many times was an individual
able to complete the survey?
(2) Who drafted,
and who ultimately approved, the questions in the survey?
(3) Is the
minister able to provide a breakdown of respondents to the survey by postcode?
(4) Does the
minister consider an opinion survey to be a scientific report?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) I table the Western Australian Biodiversity
Science Institute's The value and use of Western Australia's
native forests now and into
the future—Survey summary report . If the honourable member would like a further breakdown of respondents
by postcode instead of geographical area, I request that this is put on notice.
[See paper 692 .]
(4) Not applicable.
Hon Dr Steve Thomas : How many
trees did it take to print it off?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON : Quite a lot.
Hon Dr Steve Thomas : It would've
been softwood.
The PRESIDENT : Order!

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more