Hon. Robyn McSweeney questions the Minister for Environment regarding the application of land clearing regulations to stubble burning practices in the northern agricultural region, particularly concerning accidental burning of native vegetation and grazing. The Minister provides no response.

AnsweredQoN 524Legislative Council
Asked
27 June 2006
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

STUBBLE BURNING - NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL REGION
I refer to an agricultural memo, volume 10, number 4, from the northern agricultural region, with the heading “Stubble burning and clearing regulations”. (1) Is the minister aware of the words in this memo that refer to the land clearing regulations of 2004 and to the fact that farmers who burn native vegetation, including fallen logs, when undertaking stubble burning and who accidentally burn isolated paddock trees closer than 50 metres to other trees or native vegetation are deemed to be clearing and require a permit from the Department of Environment? (2) Is the minister aware of just how absurd that is? (3) Is this government policy? (4) Is the minister aware that the regulations define clearing as causing damage to native vegetation and that this includes burning vegetation and grazing by stock? (5) Does the minister intend to go onto every farm in Western Australia and issue infringement notices to every farmer who is grazing his stock on native vegetation? (6) If yes, when will this take place? (7) If no, why have it in the regulations? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
(1) Is the minister aware of the words in this memo that refer to the land clearing regulations of 2004 and to the fact that farmers who burn native vegetation, including fallen logs, when undertaking stubble burning and who accidentally burn isolated paddock trees closer than 50 metres to other trees or native vegetation are deemed to be clearing and require a permit from the Department of Environment? (2) Is the minister aware of just how absurd that is? (3) Is this government policy? (4) Is the minister aware that the regulations define clearing as causing damage to native vegetation and that this includes burning vegetation and grazing by stock? (5) Does the minister intend to go onto every farm in Western Australia and issue infringement notices to every farmer who is grazing his stock on native vegetation? (6) If yes, when will this take place? (7) If no, why have it in the regulations? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
(2) Is the minister aware of just how absurd that is? (3) Is this government policy? (4) Is the minister aware that the regulations define clearing as causing damage to native vegetation and that this includes burning vegetation and grazing by stock? (5) Does the minister intend to go onto every farm in Western Australia and issue infringement notices to every farmer who is grazing his stock on native vegetation? (6) If yes, when will this take place? (7) If no, why have it in the regulations? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
(3) Is this government policy? (4) Is the minister aware that the regulations define clearing as causing damage to native vegetation and that this includes burning vegetation and grazing by stock? (5) Does the minister intend to go onto every farm in Western Australia and issue infringement notices to every farmer who is grazing his stock on native vegetation? (6) If yes, when will this take place? (7) If no, why have it in the regulations? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
(4) Is the minister aware that the regulations define clearing as causing damage to native vegetation and that this includes burning vegetation and grazing by stock? (5) Does the minister intend to go onto every farm in Western Australia and issue infringement notices to every farmer who is grazing his stock on native vegetation? (6) If yes, when will this take place? (7) If no, why have it in the regulations? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
(5) Does the minister intend to go onto every farm in Western Australia and issue infringement notices to every farmer who is grazing his stock on native vegetation? (6) If yes, when will this take place? (7) If no, why have it in the regulations? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
(6) If yes, when will this take place? (7) If no, why have it in the regulations? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
(7) If no, why have it in the regulations? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Unfortunately, I do not have a response.

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