❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details of meetings between the Minister and APPEA regarding fracking regulations, EPA referrals, and a rehabilitation fund. The Minister confirms meetings occurred and topics were discussed, but denies APPEA requests and refers to a public website for policy details.
AnsweredQoN 3332Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Has the Minister met with representatives of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) since 27 November 2018, when the Government announced its policy decisions relating to hydraulic fracture stimulation in Western Australia: (a) if yes to (1), on what date or dates; (b) if yes to (1), was regulatory reform in relation to the operation of the fracking industry discussed at the meeting or meetings; (c) if yes to (1), was referral to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of fracking exploration and production projects discussed; (d) if yes to (1), did APPEA request that exploration projects not be required to be referred to the EPA for assessment decision: (i) if yes to (d), did the Minister undertake to support APPEA's request; (e) if yes to (1), given the Western Australian Fracking Inquiry's Recommendation 39, "The Government should require [...] contributions to a fund to cover liabilities defaulted by other unconventional oil and gas petroleum operations associated with hydraulic fracture stimulation in Western Australia", did APPEA request that the Government not establish an onshore petroleum rehabilitation fund to which all companies would be required to contribute: (i) if yes to (e), did the Minister undertake to support APPEA's request; (f) in light of the Department's failure to secure rehabilitation of New Standard Energy's wells in the Canning Basin, does the Minister now support the establishment of an onshore petroleum rehabilitation fund to which all fracking companies would be required to contribute: (i) if no to (f), why not; and (g) is it current Government policy to accept and implement in full all recommendations of the Western Australian fracking inquiry, including recommendation 39: (i) if no to (g), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 November 2020
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Industrial Relations
Response time
11 days
Yes.
(a) 19 February 2019, 14 March 2019, 21 March 2019, 11 June 2019, 26 September 2019, 12 March 2020, 23 April 2020, and 7 September 2020. In addition to meetings on these dates, the Minister has also attended social functions at which representatives of APPEA were present. (b) Yes. (c) Yes.
(d) No. i. N/A (e) No. i. N/A
(f)-(g) The overarching Government policy statement, and Financial Assurance Position Paper is available on the website for the Implementation of the Government’s response to the Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in Western Australia, at hydraulicfracturing.wa.gov.au.
(a) 19 February 2019, 14 March 2019, 21 March 2019, 11 June 2019, 26 September 2019, 12 March 2020, 23 April 2020, and 7 September 2020. In addition to meetings on these dates, the Minister has also attended social functions at which representatives of APPEA were present. (b) Yes. (c) Yes.
(d) No. i. N/A (e) No. i. N/A
(f)-(g) The overarching Government policy statement, and Financial Assurance Position Paper is available on the website for the Implementation of the Government’s response to the Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in Western Australia, at hydraulicfracturing.wa.gov.au.
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