❓ A Member of Parliament questions the Minister for the Environment regarding alleged misinformation from DEP officers and the department's enforcement procedures related to environmental compliance. The Minister denies the allegations and clarifies the department's approach to enforcement and pollution control.
AnsweredQoN 965Legislative Council
Asked
27 June 2003
Member
Portfolio
Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the question on notice number 806, 15 May 2003 and the answers provided -
(1) Given that the Minister has stated: ‘However coupled with this, it is appropriate that the DEP offer practical solutions to enable companies and individuals to comply with the various environmental legislation and codes of conduct’, can the Minister explain why Mr Craig Byers of the Kalgoorlie regional office and other DEP officers specifically have been providing incorrect and misleading information which is inappropriate to members of the public in stating that the DEP or officers within the Department cannot offer practical solutions to enable companies and individuals to comply with various environmental legislation?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain the reasons why ‘As from April 2003 with a breach of licence conditions or regulations a written warning is issued, and this written warning can also include directions to resolve the breach’?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Can the Minister state what does she consider to be the ‘real issues at hand’?
(6) If no to (5) why not?
(1) Given that the Minister has stated: ‘However coupled with this, it is appropriate that the DEP offer practical solutions to enable companies and individuals to comply with the various environmental legislation and codes of conduct’, can the Minister explain why Mr Craig Byers of the Kalgoorlie regional office and other DEP officers specifically have been providing incorrect and misleading information which is inappropriate to members of the public in stating that the DEP or officers within the Department cannot offer practical solutions to enable companies and individuals to comply with various environmental legislation?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain the reasons why ‘As from April 2003 with a breach of licence conditions or regulations a written warning is issued, and this written warning can also include directions to resolve the breach’?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Can the Minister state what does she consider to be the ‘real issues at hand’?
(6) If no to (5) why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2003
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
46 days
The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response:
(1) The Minister is not aware of any officers providing incorrect or misleading information to members of the public. An officer may provide verbal advice in relation to practical solutions to enable companies and individuals to comply with legislation.
(2) Answered by (1).
(3) A written warning is pursuant to the Department’s Prosecution and Enforcement Guidelines. Due to the recent formation of the Environmental Enforcement Unit and an increased emphasis by the Department on enforcement actions, a written warning is the initial documentation that clearly identifies the issue of concern to both the Department’s Enforcement Unit and the offender. The written warning should identify where the breach of legislation has occurred and a request for remedial actions to be implemented.
(4) Answered by (3).
(5) The ‘real issue at hand’ is the Department’s ability to effectively control and prevent pollution by implementing appropriate strategies, in line with increasing community expectations, to achieve the best environmental outcome for all concerned.
(6) Answered by (5).
(1) The Minister is not aware of any officers providing incorrect or misleading information to members of the public. An officer may provide verbal advice in relation to practical solutions to enable companies and individuals to comply with legislation.
(2) Answered by (1).
(3) A written warning is pursuant to the Department’s Prosecution and Enforcement Guidelines. Due to the recent formation of the Environmental Enforcement Unit and an increased emphasis by the Department on enforcement actions, a written warning is the initial documentation that clearly identifies the issue of concern to both the Department’s Enforcement Unit and the offender. The written warning should identify where the breach of legislation has occurred and a request for remedial actions to be implemented.
(4) Answered by (3).
(5) The ‘real issue at hand’ is the Department’s ability to effectively control and prevent pollution by implementing appropriate strategies, in line with increasing community expectations, to achieve the best environmental outcome for all concerned.
(6) Answered by (5).
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.