❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions the Minister for Environment, Albert Jacob, about the government's response to the EPA's report on the shark drum line program, specifically asking if the Minister will cancel the program. The Minister avoids a direct answer, explaining the EPA process and citing the public appeal period as a reason for not commenting.
AnsweredQoN 662Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SHARK DRUM
LINE PROGRAM — ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY REPORT
662. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Environment:
Given today's decision by the Environmental
Protection Authority on shark drum lines, will the minister follow this ruling
by cancelling the Barnett government's flawed shark cull program and
ruling that the EPA was correct?
LINE PROGRAM — ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY REPORT
662. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Environment:
Given today's decision by the Environmental
Protection Authority on shark drum lines, will the minister follow this ruling
by cancelling the Barnett government's flawed shark cull program and
ruling that the EPA was correct?
AnswerView source ↗
I thoroughly enjoy being Minister
for Environment; it is an incredibly challenging portfolio, and on coming into
this job I had hoped we could have had some very good debates in this house.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : But I find I spend most of my time taking members opposite all
the way back through the Environmental Protection Act. The Leader of the
Opposition is a former Minister for the Environment, but I will, for the Leader
of the Opposition's benefit, run through how the environmental approval
process works. A project is referred to the EPA in this instance —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
I want you to answer the question succinctly, minister.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I am trying to; I just find I have to run through this process
again and again.
A project is referred to the EPA,
and the EPA determines the level of assessment on that project. That was done
in this case at a public environmental review. That goes through a whole
process, including a range of public comments, and the EPA brings out its
recommendation and assessment. That has happened.
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Butler, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
This is the salient point: the EPA brings out its assessment report and its
recommendation. It is my understanding that that happened at two o'clock
this afternoon. The EPA, in bringing out that assessment report, immediately
triggers a two-week public appeal period. My practice and the practice of
previous Ministers for Environment is that that is the public's appeal
period, and I do not comment on projects during that period.
for Environment; it is an incredibly challenging portfolio, and on coming into
this job I had hoped we could have had some very good debates in this house.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : But I find I spend most of my time taking members opposite all
the way back through the Environmental Protection Act. The Leader of the
Opposition is a former Minister for the Environment, but I will, for the Leader
of the Opposition's benefit, run through how the environmental approval
process works. A project is referred to the EPA in this instance —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
I want you to answer the question succinctly, minister.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I am trying to; I just find I have to run through this process
again and again.
A project is referred to the EPA,
and the EPA determines the level of assessment on that project. That was done
in this case at a public environmental review. That goes through a whole
process, including a range of public comments, and the EPA brings out its
recommendation and assessment. That has happened.
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Butler, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
This is the salient point: the EPA brings out its assessment report and its
recommendation. It is my understanding that that happened at two o'clock
this afternoon. The EPA, in bringing out that assessment report, immediately
triggers a two-week public appeal period. My practice and the practice of
previous Ministers for Environment is that that is the public's appeal
period, and I do not comment on projects during that period.
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