❓ Mr. Marmion questions the Premier's delay in responding to the EPA's greenhouse gas guidelines. The Premier defends the EPA's independence and explains the decision-making process, highlighting concerns about inconsistent application of rules across states.
AnsweredQoN 118Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AUTHORITY — GREENHOUSE GAS GUIDELINES
118. Mr W.R. MARMION to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I take
it that the Premier has ruled out those projects. Why did he wait two weeks
before making the announcement that he made just then?
Several members interjected.
AUTHORITY — GREENHOUSE GAS GUIDELINES
118. Mr W.R. MARMION to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I take
it that the Premier has ruled out those projects. Why did he wait two weeks
before making the announcement that he made just then?
Several members interjected.
AnswerView source ↗
I think the EPA announced its policy
on Friday.
Mr W.R. Marmion interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for
Nedlands was a former environment minister, as I was, but I will explain to him the way it works. The EPA is independent of
the government. It has an independent board. The board does its own analysis.
The government minister, the environment minister—which the member for
Nedlands and I have been—receives recommendations for individual
projects from the EPA board, takes advice from the Appeals Convenor and then
makes a decision on the conditions or otherwise that are applied to any
particular project. That is the way it works.
Mr W.R. Marmion interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Nedlands, you get a supplementary, I think.
Mr W.R. Marmion : I've
had one!
The SPEAKER : Have you?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Does he get a supplementary
on a supplementary? That would be very sad. I have advised the house —
Mr W.R. Marmion interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Climate change
is real, and I want us to all acknowledge that Australia needs to be part of an
international solution. But as I have said repeatedly, just applying a set of
rules to one set of projects and not applying them to other projects across
Australia that, in effect, they compete with is not the most rational way of
dealing with the issue, particularly when those projects in the eastern states
produce twice as many greenhouse gases per unit of energy as the LNG project. I
have explained that numerous times. I have explained that publicly. That is why
I have called a meeting with the companies. I am looking for a resolution, but
I also want the companies to come to the table and say what they think are some
good opportunities to reduce emissions.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
on Friday.
Mr W.R. Marmion interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for
Nedlands was a former environment minister, as I was, but I will explain to him the way it works. The EPA is independent of
the government. It has an independent board. The board does its own analysis.
The government minister, the environment minister—which the member for
Nedlands and I have been—receives recommendations for individual
projects from the EPA board, takes advice from the Appeals Convenor and then
makes a decision on the conditions or otherwise that are applied to any
particular project. That is the way it works.
Mr W.R. Marmion interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Nedlands, you get a supplementary, I think.
Mr W.R. Marmion : I've
had one!
The SPEAKER : Have you?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Does he get a supplementary
on a supplementary? That would be very sad. I have advised the house —
Mr W.R. Marmion interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Climate change
is real, and I want us to all acknowledge that Australia needs to be part of an
international solution. But as I have said repeatedly, just applying a set of
rules to one set of projects and not applying them to other projects across
Australia that, in effect, they compete with is not the most rational way of
dealing with the issue, particularly when those projects in the eastern states
produce twice as many greenhouse gases per unit of energy as the LNG project. I
have explained that numerous times. I have explained that publicly. That is why
I have called a meeting with the companies. I am looking for a resolution, but
I also want the companies to come to the table and say what they think are some
good opportunities to reduce emissions.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
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