❓ A WA parliamentary question scrutinising the Waste Authority's composition, community engagement, and potential diversion of WARR levy funds to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), challenging the Minister on prior commitments and committee recommendations.
AnsweredQoN 1393Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Who are the members of the Waste Authority of Western Australia?
(2) What background do they have in waste management?
(3) Does the Waste Authority have a communication strategy for engagement with the community?
(4) Is the Government planning to divert more than 50 percent of the income from the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Levy, to support the budget of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC)?
(5) Is the Minister aware that the Hon Cheryl Edwardes MLA, promised in 1997 that the proceeds of this levy, would not be used to fund the ongoing operations of the Department?
(6) Is the Minister aware that in 2007, the former Minister for the Environment, Hon David Templeman MLA, reaffirmed the commitment made by Minister Edwardes?
(7) Why is the Minister proposing to break this commitment, which was given by her predecessors?
(8) Is the Minister aware of Recommendation 3 of the Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs on Municipal Waste (May 2009), that the
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007
, be amended to expressly limit the DEC’s access to funds from the landfill levy?
(9) Why is the Minister proposing to ignore the recommendation of this Committee and offset a reduction in funding to the DEC with the proceeds of the WARR levy?
(10) How much funding will be diverted from the WARR Levy to supplement the budget of DEC in 2009-2010?
(11) What is the total amount of funding expected to be raised by the WARR levy in 2009-2010?
(2) What background do they have in waste management?
(3) Does the Waste Authority have a communication strategy for engagement with the community?
(4) Is the Government planning to divert more than 50 percent of the income from the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Levy, to support the budget of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC)?
(5) Is the Minister aware that the Hon Cheryl Edwardes MLA, promised in 1997 that the proceeds of this levy, would not be used to fund the ongoing operations of the Department?
(6) Is the Minister aware that in 2007, the former Minister for the Environment, Hon David Templeman MLA, reaffirmed the commitment made by Minister Edwardes?
(7) Why is the Minister proposing to break this commitment, which was given by her predecessors?
(8) Is the Minister aware of Recommendation 3 of the Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs on Municipal Waste (May 2009), that the
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007
, be amended to expressly limit the DEC’s access to funds from the landfill levy?
(9) Why is the Minister proposing to ignore the recommendation of this Committee and offset a reduction in funding to the DEC with the proceeds of the WARR levy?
(10) How much funding will be diverted from the WARR Levy to supplement the budget of DEC in 2009-2010?
(11) What is the total amount of funding expected to be raised by the WARR levy in 2009-2010?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 March 2010
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
111 days
(1) Mr Barry Carbon - Chairman
Ms Jan Grimoldby - Deputy Chair
Ms Carolyn Jakobsen, Mr Marcus Geisler, Professor Paul Hardisty - Members
(2)
Mr Barry Carbon, Chairman
Mr Carbon is a member of the Order of Australia, fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, has a Masters degree in Agricultural Science and a degree in Biochemistry. He received a centenary medal for services to government and in 2008 was presented the medal for the International Association of Impact Assessment Award for Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Carbon's experience include Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment, New Zealand; Director-General Queensland Environmental Protection Agency; Executive Director, EPA Commonwealth of Australia; Chairman and Commonwealth Representative, National Environment Protection Council Committee and served on the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia as Chairman from 1985 to 1986 and as Chairman and Chief Executive from 1986 to 1993.
He was Chairman of the former WA Waste Management Board, is a Director of the Australian Sustainable Development Institute and Principal of Barry Carbon and Associates.
Ms Jan Grimoldby, Deputy Chair
Ms Grimoldby has worked at a senior level in local government for over 20 years, including eleven years as CEO in three different councils, two of which were specialist regional waste management councils in metropolitan Perth. During this time, she has accrued substantial experience in matters relating to waste minimisation and resource recovery. Ms Grimoldby is familiar with modern waste minimisation and resource recovery technologies and techniques and is aware of the importance of education and public opinion and attitudes in matters associated with environmental protection from a waste management perspective.
Ms Grimoldby was Commissioner of the City of Geraldton-Greenough during May to October 2007, the inaugural CEO of the South Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council from 2002 to 2007, CEO of the Town of Cottesloe between 1993 and 1998, and CEO of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council from 1991 to 1993.
During the past ten years, Ms Grimoldby has also worked as an independent consultant, undertaking a range of studies and projects for both local government and the non-government sector.
Ms Carolyn Jakobsen, Member
Ms Jakobsen is a Postgraduate Researcher at Murdoch University. She is Chair of the Women's Health Services Association, Chair of the Woodman Point Waste Water Treatment Plant Community Reference Group, and member of the Swan River Trust. Ms Jakobsen was also a member of the former WA Waste Management Board.
Mr Marcus Geisler, Member
Marcus Geisler has 22 years experience in the waste and recycling industry, 11 years of which were in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, at both operational and management level and three years in the Melbourne Corporate Office of a waste management multinational developing national and state strategies. Mr Geisler has experience in waste resource processing, recovery and subsequent marketing of secondary materials ranging from construction and demolition waste to kerbside recyclables, composting of organic waste and alternative waste treatment processes.
Mr Geisler's previous roles in WA include General Manager Western Region of Thiess Services (Australia's largest and most diversified services company also involved in collection, processing, landfilling and recovery of waste and land remediation), General Manager of waste management company SITA, Managing Director of Western Australian Landfill Services (SITA and Hanson JV) and Business Manager of BioWise Composting (Water Corporation partnership).
During 2003 to 2008, Mr Geisler was the elected President of the Waste Management Association of Australia (WA Branch) and a Director and Board Member of the Association. From 2002 to 2006 Mr Geisler was a member of the Core Consultative Committee on Waste, a government advisory committee on the siting of hazardous waste precincts.
Professor Paul Hardisty, Member
Professor Hardisty
is Global Director Sustainability and EcoNomicsTM for Worley Parsons. Professor Hardisty has over 21 years experience in the environmental field, focusing on the management of large multi-disciplinary environmental projects, especially in the resources and industrial sectors, and advising corporations and government on environmental and social sustainability. Professor Hardisty has particular expertise in environmental strategy and decision making, and the financial and economic aspects of sustainability and waste management. He is a Visiting Professor in Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia, where he is involved with both the School of Business, and the Environmental Engineering Department.
Professor Hardisty has published widely and is the author of 'The Economics of Environmental Protection in Industry: Quantifying Sustainability.' He is a recognised expert in the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites and groundwater, and the behaviour of organic chemical wastes in the natural environment.
(3) Yes.
(4) Please refer to 2009-10 Budget Paper Number 3 at page 74. Furthermore, the decision to apply levy revenues to a broader range of purposes than waste management alone is consistent with the practice in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
(5) Yes.
(6) Yes.
(7) See answer to (4).
(8) Yes. As per the
Government Response to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs (Report No. 16) - Municipal Waste Management in Western Australia (October 2009) (Tabled Paper No. 1523)
, Sections 79 and 80 of the WARR Act already provide for levy funds to be paid into the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Account and prescribes the purposes for which moneys in the WARR Account maybe applied. Legislation has been introduced to the Parliament to enable the levy revenue to be split into two streams, one to the WARR Account expressly for the purpose of the
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007
, and the other to DEC for conservation and environment programs.
(9) The Government has responded to all recommendations of the Report referred to in the
Government Response to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs (Report No. 16) - Municipal Waste Management in Western Australia (October 2009) (Tabled Paper No. 1523)
.
(10) See the answer to (7).
(11-12) Please refer to the 2009-10 Government Mid-year Financial Projections Statement (December 2009).
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Ms Jan Grimoldby - Deputy Chair
Ms Carolyn Jakobsen, Mr Marcus Geisler, Professor Paul Hardisty - Members
(2)
Mr Barry Carbon, Chairman
Mr Carbon is a member of the Order of Australia, fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, has a Masters degree in Agricultural Science and a degree in Biochemistry. He received a centenary medal for services to government and in 2008 was presented the medal for the International Association of Impact Assessment Award for Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Carbon's experience include Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment, New Zealand; Director-General Queensland Environmental Protection Agency; Executive Director, EPA Commonwealth of Australia; Chairman and Commonwealth Representative, National Environment Protection Council Committee and served on the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia as Chairman from 1985 to 1986 and as Chairman and Chief Executive from 1986 to 1993.
He was Chairman of the former WA Waste Management Board, is a Director of the Australian Sustainable Development Institute and Principal of Barry Carbon and Associates.
Ms Jan Grimoldby, Deputy Chair
Ms Grimoldby has worked at a senior level in local government for over 20 years, including eleven years as CEO in three different councils, two of which were specialist regional waste management councils in metropolitan Perth. During this time, she has accrued substantial experience in matters relating to waste minimisation and resource recovery. Ms Grimoldby is familiar with modern waste minimisation and resource recovery technologies and techniques and is aware of the importance of education and public opinion and attitudes in matters associated with environmental protection from a waste management perspective.
Ms Grimoldby was Commissioner of the City of Geraldton-Greenough during May to October 2007, the inaugural CEO of the South Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council from 2002 to 2007, CEO of the Town of Cottesloe between 1993 and 1998, and CEO of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council from 1991 to 1993.
During the past ten years, Ms Grimoldby has also worked as an independent consultant, undertaking a range of studies and projects for both local government and the non-government sector.
Ms Carolyn Jakobsen, Member
Ms Jakobsen is a Postgraduate Researcher at Murdoch University. She is Chair of the Women's Health Services Association, Chair of the Woodman Point Waste Water Treatment Plant Community Reference Group, and member of the Swan River Trust. Ms Jakobsen was also a member of the former WA Waste Management Board.
Mr Marcus Geisler, Member
Marcus Geisler has 22 years experience in the waste and recycling industry, 11 years of which were in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, at both operational and management level and three years in the Melbourne Corporate Office of a waste management multinational developing national and state strategies. Mr Geisler has experience in waste resource processing, recovery and subsequent marketing of secondary materials ranging from construction and demolition waste to kerbside recyclables, composting of organic waste and alternative waste treatment processes.
Mr Geisler's previous roles in WA include General Manager Western Region of Thiess Services (Australia's largest and most diversified services company also involved in collection, processing, landfilling and recovery of waste and land remediation), General Manager of waste management company SITA, Managing Director of Western Australian Landfill Services (SITA and Hanson JV) and Business Manager of BioWise Composting (Water Corporation partnership).
During 2003 to 2008, Mr Geisler was the elected President of the Waste Management Association of Australia (WA Branch) and a Director and Board Member of the Association. From 2002 to 2006 Mr Geisler was a member of the Core Consultative Committee on Waste, a government advisory committee on the siting of hazardous waste precincts.
Professor Paul Hardisty, Member
Professor Hardisty
is Global Director Sustainability and EcoNomicsTM for Worley Parsons. Professor Hardisty has over 21 years experience in the environmental field, focusing on the management of large multi-disciplinary environmental projects, especially in the resources and industrial sectors, and advising corporations and government on environmental and social sustainability. Professor Hardisty has particular expertise in environmental strategy and decision making, and the financial and economic aspects of sustainability and waste management. He is a Visiting Professor in Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia, where he is involved with both the School of Business, and the Environmental Engineering Department.
Professor Hardisty has published widely and is the author of 'The Economics of Environmental Protection in Industry: Quantifying Sustainability.' He is a recognised expert in the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites and groundwater, and the behaviour of organic chemical wastes in the natural environment.
(3) Yes.
(4) Please refer to 2009-10 Budget Paper Number 3 at page 74. Furthermore, the decision to apply levy revenues to a broader range of purposes than waste management alone is consistent with the practice in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
(5) Yes.
(6) Yes.
(7) See answer to (4).
(8) Yes. As per the
Government Response to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs (Report No. 16) - Municipal Waste Management in Western Australia (October 2009) (Tabled Paper No. 1523)
, Sections 79 and 80 of the WARR Act already provide for levy funds to be paid into the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Account and prescribes the purposes for which moneys in the WARR Account maybe applied. Legislation has been introduced to the Parliament to enable the levy revenue to be split into two streams, one to the WARR Account expressly for the purpose of the
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007
, and the other to DEC for conservation and environment programs.
(9) The Government has responded to all recommendations of the Report referred to in the
Government Response to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs (Report No. 16) - Municipal Waste Management in Western Australia (October 2009) (Tabled Paper No. 1523)
.
(10) See the answer to (7).
(11-12) Please refer to the 2009-10 Government Mid-year Financial Projections Statement (December 2009).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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