❓ Dr. Honey questions the Environment Minister about the environmental impact of the outer harbour project on Cockburn Sound's benthic habitat, referencing a 2006 EPA report. The Minister deflects, criticises the previous Liberal government's environmental record, and assures that the Westport project will undergo EPA assessment.
AnsweredQoN 196Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OUTER
HARBOUR — COCKBURN SOUND
196. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to WA Labor's
plan to build an outer harbour over the important benthic marine environment of
Cockburn Sound.
(1) Given the
magnitude of the environmental damage that will be caused to the benthic
primary producer habitat when the outer harbour is built, has the minister read
the Environmental Protection Authority's 2006 advice on the impact of
an outer harbour?
(2) If so, can
the minister please outline to the house the current status of the benthic
primary producer habitat in the Cockburn Sound marine environment?
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
HARBOUR — COCKBURN SOUND
196. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to WA Labor's
plan to build an outer harbour over the important benthic marine environment of
Cockburn Sound.
(1) Given the
magnitude of the environmental damage that will be caused to the benthic
primary producer habitat when the outer harbour is built, has the minister read
the Environmental Protection Authority's 2006 advice on the impact of
an outer harbour?
(2) If so, can
the minister please outline to the house the current status of the benthic
primary producer habitat in the Cockburn Sound marine environment?
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
When it comes to environmental vandalism, I think we need look no further than
the WA Liberal Party and what it proposed over the Beeliar wetlands. Let us be
real. That was a shocking project, which would not even have solved the issues
at Fremantle port. With regard to the member's specific question, I am
happy to provide that information on notice. But I can tell the member that the
Westport project will create thousands of jobs and relieve pressure on the
roads in Fremantle. It is a key election commitment. The WA Liberal Party has
no credibility when it comes to the environment—absolutely none. It is
frankly quite shocking to hear from the member on this issue. He worked for
Alcoa for many, many years and supported Alcoa for many, many years. Now he is
claiming to be supporting the environment. When we came to government, there
was zero action on climate change.
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Deputy Leader of the National Party, the
question has been asked by the Leader of the Liberal Party. I am prepared to
tolerate some interjection from him in order to elucidate further answers, but
I am not going to have a wall of interjections while the minister is trying to
respond.
Ms A. SANDERSON : The Westport project, like every
other government and private infrastructure project that has significant impacts, will go through an
Environmental Protection Authority assessment. That is what the project will go through and that will determine the best outcome for the environment.
When we came to government, we could not
even get a public servant to talk about climate change. They were used to being
ground down by the former government; they would send up information,
and documents would be sent back from across ministers' offices—not
just one—with ''Take out 'climate change'.''
Do not stand in here and claim to be some champion of the environment. All
major projects go through an EPA assessment, and that is the appropriate
channel. We have some of the most stringent assessments and processes in the
world for environmental outcomes. I have full confidence in that assessment.
When it comes to environmental vandalism, I think we need look no further than
the WA Liberal Party and what it proposed over the Beeliar wetlands. Let us be
real. That was a shocking project, which would not even have solved the issues
at Fremantle port. With regard to the member's specific question, I am
happy to provide that information on notice. But I can tell the member that the
Westport project will create thousands of jobs and relieve pressure on the
roads in Fremantle. It is a key election commitment. The WA Liberal Party has
no credibility when it comes to the environment—absolutely none. It is
frankly quite shocking to hear from the member on this issue. He worked for
Alcoa for many, many years and supported Alcoa for many, many years. Now he is
claiming to be supporting the environment. When we came to government, there
was zero action on climate change.
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Deputy Leader of the National Party, the
question has been asked by the Leader of the Liberal Party. I am prepared to
tolerate some interjection from him in order to elucidate further answers, but
I am not going to have a wall of interjections while the minister is trying to
respond.
Ms A. SANDERSON : The Westport project, like every
other government and private infrastructure project that has significant impacts, will go through an
Environmental Protection Authority assessment. That is what the project will go through and that will determine the best outcome for the environment.
When we came to government, we could not
even get a public servant to talk about climate change. They were used to being
ground down by the former government; they would send up information,
and documents would be sent back from across ministers' offices—not
just one—with ''Take out 'climate change'.''
Do not stand in here and claim to be some champion of the environment. All
major projects go through an EPA assessment, and that is the appropriate
channel. We have some of the most stringent assessments and processes in the
world for environmental outcomes. I have full confidence in that assessment.
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