❓ Question regarding potential conflict between Ministerial decisions and the independence of the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, specifically concerning the monitoring of Ministerial conditions on projects.
AnsweredQoN 280Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
OFFICE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY
I draw the minister’s attention to the following quote from the budget papers in relation to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority. The budget states that — The Office will be expected to play its part in reducing the number of environmental issues under appeal by refining and continuously improving its procedures based on its analysis of Ministerial decisions and experience gained from monitoring the implementation of projects. How does this reference to ministerial decisions sit with the minister’s assurance that the office would be independent? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
I draw the minister’s attention to the following quote from the budget papers in relation to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority. The budget states that — The Office will be expected to play its part in reducing the number of environmental issues under appeal by refining and continuously improving its procedures based on its analysis of Ministerial decisions and experience gained from monitoring the implementation of projects. How does this reference to ministerial decisions sit with the minister’s assurance that the office would be independent? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. The fact is that the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has responsibility for monitoring the ministerial conditions that I set on projects on which it also provides recommendations to me at the very beginning of the process. Therefore, the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has an additional role—that is, ensuring companies with projects with ministerial conditions are following those conditions I have set.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. The fact is that the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has responsibility for monitoring the ministerial conditions that I set on projects on which it also provides recommendations to me at the very beginning of the process. Therefore, the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has an additional role—that is, ensuring companies with projects with ministerial conditions are following those conditions I have set.
I thank the member for her question. The fact is that the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has responsibility for monitoring the ministerial conditions that I set on projects on which it also provides recommendations to me at the very beginning of the process. Therefore, the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has an additional role—that is, ensuring companies with projects with ministerial conditions are following those conditions I have set.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. The fact is that the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has responsibility for monitoring the ministerial conditions that I set on projects on which it also provides recommendations to me at the very beginning of the process. Therefore, the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has an additional role—that is, ensuring companies with projects with ministerial conditions are following those conditions I have set.
I thank the member for her question. The fact is that the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has responsibility for monitoring the ministerial conditions that I set on projects on which it also provides recommendations to me at the very beginning of the process. Therefore, the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority now has an additional role—that is, ensuring companies with projects with ministerial conditions are following those conditions I have set.
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