❓ A parliamentary question investigates potential influence by the Environment Minister's office on the Conservation Commission's withdrawal of an appeal regarding the Mangles Bay Marina. The Minister denies improper influence or deliberations.
AnsweredQoN 875Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Did the Environment Minister’s Chief of Staff speak with the
Minister for Environment about her conversations with the Chairman of the Conservation Commission concerning the Conservation Commission’s appeal, in relation to the Mangles Bay Marina, and its withdrawal: (a) if no to (1), why not; and (b) if yes to (1), when? (2) Did the Environment Minister receive the briefing that the Chairman of
the Conservation Commission provided to the Environment Minister via the
Minister’s Chief of Staff on 20 May 2013? (3) Is the Minister aware that his Chief of Staff exchanged at least five
emails with the Chairman of the Conservation Commission in the four days
leading to the withdrawal of the appeal? (4) Did any discussions between the Chairman of the Conservation Commission
and the Minister’s Chief of Staff involve any suggestion that the
Conservation Commission withdraw its appeal? (5) Did any discussions between the Environment Minister and the Minister’s Chief of Staff involve any suggestion that the Conservation Commission
withdraw its appeal? (6) Will the Minister table the deliberations between the Minister’s Office and the Conservation Commission concerning the Commission’s appeal and
its subsequent withdrawal?
Minister for Environment about her conversations with the Chairman of the Conservation Commission concerning the Conservation Commission’s appeal, in relation to the Mangles Bay Marina, and its withdrawal: (a) if no to (1), why not; and (b) if yes to (1), when? (2) Did the Environment Minister receive the briefing that the Chairman of
the Conservation Commission provided to the Environment Minister via the
Minister’s Chief of Staff on 20 May 2013? (3) Is the Minister aware that his Chief of Staff exchanged at least five
emails with the Chairman of the Conservation Commission in the four days
leading to the withdrawal of the appeal? (4) Did any discussions between the Chairman of the Conservation Commission
and the Minister’s Chief of Staff involve any suggestion that the
Conservation Commission withdraw its appeal? (5) Did any discussions between the Environment Minister and the Minister’s Chief of Staff involve any suggestion that the Conservation Commission
withdraw its appeal? (6) Will the Minister table the deliberations between the Minister’s Office and the Conservation Commission concerning the Commission’s appeal and
its subsequent withdrawal?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 April 2014
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
20 days
(1) Yes. The Chairman of the Commission contacted my Chief of Staff on 16 May 2013 to advise he would like to speak with her, a subsequent conversation was had on 17 May 2013 during which the Chair advised that the Commission had submitted an appeal on the marina proposal. She then advised me by phone of this discussion on the same day.
(2) Yes. The Commission provided a draft briefing note on 17 May 2013 which was emailed to me and my correspondence officer for logging on 18 May 2013.
(3) Yes - as the Member is aware, given she has received the emails via a Freedom of Information application that I signed off on.
(4)-(5) No
(6) There were no 'deliberations' between the Ministerial Office and the Commission concerning the appeal and its withdrawal.
(2) Yes. The Commission provided a draft briefing note on 17 May 2013 which was emailed to me and my correspondence officer for logging on 18 May 2013.
(3) Yes - as the Member is aware, given she has received the emails via a Freedom of Information application that I signed off on.
(4)-(5) No
(6) There were no 'deliberations' between the Ministerial Office and the Commission concerning the appeal and its withdrawal.
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