❓ Mr. Tallentire questions the Minister for Environment about the postponement of the WA Environment Awards, suggesting insincerity and questioning the justification based on departmental restructuring. The Minister defends the decision, citing cost and accessibility concerns.
AnsweredQoN 387Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WA
ENVIRONMENT AWARDS — CANCELLATION
387. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the cancellation of this year's WA
environment awards, for which the minister personally called for submissions
when he launched the awards on World Environment Day on 5 June, and the
subsequent review of these awards that he has put in place.
(1) Why did
the minister personally open the nominations for these awards when he had every
intention of cancelling them even before nominations were to close?
(2) Why have
these awards been placed under review using the justification of the splitting
of the Department of Environment and Conservation into two new departments when
he knew at the election that he would split the department?
ENVIRONMENT AWARDS — CANCELLATION
387. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the cancellation of this year's WA
environment awards, for which the minister personally called for submissions
when he launched the awards on World Environment Day on 5 June, and the
subsequent review of these awards that he has put in place.
(1) Why did
the minister personally open the nominations for these awards when he had every
intention of cancelling them even before nominations were to close?
(2) Why have
these awards been placed under review using the justification of the splitting
of the Department of Environment and Conservation into two new departments when
he knew at the election that he would split the department?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
might send the member for Gosnells a copy of the release that the Department of
Environment Regulation put out about that.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
About cancelling the awards?
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Exactly—about what the member has termed ''cancelling the awards''.
The awards have not been cancelled; the awards have in fact been postponed.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Everybody wants to have a really good laugh about it. Yes, we did open the
awards. As was stated first and foremost in that release, we have postponed the
awards. I believe that we need to look at what we are doing with the
environmental awards program. Indeed, I have had letters from very significant,
respected organisations representing environmental groups in this state that
found that the previous environmental awards were increasingly out of their
reach.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr A.P. JACOB : The awards were run
effectively as a five star–type program. As has been indicated, private
sector sponsors subsequently fell through, so we looked at the internal budgets
of the Department of Environment Regulation and the Department of Parks and
Wildlife. This event was going to cost taxpayers around $100 000 for one
dinner. Does the member think that $100 000 for one dinner is a justified use
of taxpayers' money in the environment portfolio?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition! Minister, can you answer the question, or I will
allow a supplementary?
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
will take a supplementary, Mr Speaker.
might send the member for Gosnells a copy of the release that the Department of
Environment Regulation put out about that.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
About cancelling the awards?
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Exactly—about what the member has termed ''cancelling the awards''.
The awards have not been cancelled; the awards have in fact been postponed.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Everybody wants to have a really good laugh about it. Yes, we did open the
awards. As was stated first and foremost in that release, we have postponed the
awards. I believe that we need to look at what we are doing with the
environmental awards program. Indeed, I have had letters from very significant,
respected organisations representing environmental groups in this state that
found that the previous environmental awards were increasingly out of their
reach.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr A.P. JACOB : The awards were run
effectively as a five star–type program. As has been indicated, private
sector sponsors subsequently fell through, so we looked at the internal budgets
of the Department of Environment Regulation and the Department of Parks and
Wildlife. This event was going to cost taxpayers around $100 000 for one
dinner. Does the member think that $100 000 for one dinner is a justified use
of taxpayers' money in the environment portfolio?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition! Minister, can you answer the question, or I will
allow a supplementary?
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
will take a supplementary, Mr Speaker.
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