❓ Question regarding environmental approvals for Cable Sands mining in Ludlow tuart forest. Minister defends the approval, highlighting conditions to conserve older tuarts and existing conservation efforts, while criticising the opposition's stance.
AnsweredQoN 480Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
A number of concerns have been raised directly with me and, through the media, by my constituents about the environmental approvals for Cable Sands Pty Ltd to mine an area of 115 hectares in the Ludlow tuart forest. I would appreciate the minister’s clarification of some of the claims being made about the environmental values of this site and, indeed, the Government’s commitment to tuart conservation. Dr J.M. EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question and for his interest in this area. I am aware that people want to know about the issue and that it is proving to be quite challenging. I will put on the record some statements to correct some of the information that has been bandied around. There is no way that this area of 115 or so hectares in Ludlow is old-growth forest. It is nowhere near meeting the definition of “old-growth forest”. In fact, in this area there are 50 000 pine trees, numerous arum lilies, lots of peppermint trees - Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question and for his interest in this area. I am aware that people want to know about the issue and that it is proving to be quite challenging. I will put on the record some statements to correct some of the information that has been bandied around. There is no way that this area of 115 or so hectares in Ludlow is old-growth forest. It is nowhere near meeting the definition of “old-growth forest”. In fact, in this area there are 50 000 pine trees, numerous arum lilies, lots of peppermint trees - Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
I thank the member for the question and for his interest in this area. I am aware that people want to know about the issue and that it is proving to be quite challenging. I will put on the record some statements to correct some of the information that has been bandied around. There is no way that this area of 115 or so hectares in Ludlow is old-growth forest. It is nowhere near meeting the definition of “old-growth forest”. In fact, in this area there are 50 000 pine trees, numerous arum lilies, lots of peppermint trees - Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for the question and for his interest in this area. I am aware that people want to know about the issue and that it is proving to be quite challenging. I will put on the record some statements to correct some of the information that has been bandied around. There is no way that this area of 115 or so hectares in Ludlow is old-growth forest. It is nowhere near meeting the definition of “old-growth forest”. In fact, in this area there are 50 000 pine trees, numerous arum lilies, lots of peppermint trees - Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
I thank the member for the question and for his interest in this area. I am aware that people want to know about the issue and that it is proving to be quite challenging. I will put on the record some statements to correct some of the information that has been bandied around. There is no way that this area of 115 or so hectares in Ludlow is old-growth forest. It is nowhere near meeting the definition of “old-growth forest”. In fact, in this area there are 50 000 pine trees, numerous arum lilies, lots of peppermint trees - Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: We will not count the arum lilies. Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mr P.D. Omodei interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: All right; there are millions of arum lilies. Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. Woollard interjected. Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs M.H. Roberts: The member for Merredin said that it is all arum lilies. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There are a couple of tuarts there. In fact, not only has the area been used as a plantation, but also it has been grazed. Statements have been made also by members, including the member for Alfred Cove, that this is the last remaining tall tuart forest. That is an absolute load of nonsense. Some 46 per cent - nearly half - of the original tall tuart woodland is safely protected in conservation reserves. It is important to emphasise the word “original”. That applies to pre-European settlement. Almost half of that area is safely protected in reserves. This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
This proposal has been through the Environmental Protection Authority and was assessed at the highest level. When it came to me for approval, I strengthened a number of conditions through the appeals process. As a result of that and of the appeals put forward at the time, 70 per cent of the tuarts that are more than 100 years old and 50 per cent of the tuarts that are between 80 and 100 years old will be conserved. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: What is the Opposition’s view? Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mr P.D. Omodei: You are the minister. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: You are the previous Minister for Forest Products. Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mr B.K. Masters interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member for Vasse. The member for Vasse has been very active. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: You are in the hot seat. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It is a good place to be. Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr G.I. Gallop: This is called an accountable Opposition! Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mr E.S. Ripper: It has a policy, but it will not tell the public what it is! Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: It could be that the two parties have a different policy. The member for Avon is nodding. Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Several members interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: In 2001 I set up a tuart response group to look at the issue of tuarts. That group has been working well. It comprises government experts, including scientists, and people from the community. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Who set that up? Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I did, as the Minister for the Environment. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: Look at the report. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The member for Kingsley did not set it up; I set it up and appointed its members. Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Mrs C.L. Edwardes: I set it up. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: This is really interesting. The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
The SPEAKER: I know that the minister thinks it is interesting, but I do not. I ask the minister to get on with the answer and for the level of interjections to cease. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: There has been an interplay of words but we still do not know what is the Opposition’s policy or attitude. There is a lot of hot air but no substance. The tuart response group has worked to compile a comprehensive tuart atlas. It has studied the six types of tuart ecosystems in this State and is working on a tuart conservation plan that will be released for public comment shortly. If people are interested in conserving good quality tuarts, they need look no further than the greater Bunbury region scheme. That scheme proposes two reserves that contain some very good areas of tuart that have nearly pristine understorey and other attributes. People who are really concerned about tuarts need to look at that proposal.
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.