❓ Mr. Tallentire questions the Minister for Environment on the delay in establishing the Pilbara Strategic Conservation Fund, despite commitments from mining companies. The Minister defends the delay, citing the need for proper governance and stakeholder consultation to maximize the fund's environmental impact.
AnsweredQoN 980Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PILBARA STRATEGIC CONSERVATION FUND
980. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister
for Environment:
I refer to the minister's
continued lack of action in establishing the Pilbara strategic conservation
fund, even though companies including Fortescue Metals Group, Hamersley Iron
and Iron Ore Holdings agreed to pay funds over two years ago. Considering the
rising unemployment rate in the Pilbara, why has the minister still not
established this long-promised fund that could be increasing employment right
now?
980. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister
for Environment:
I refer to the minister's
continued lack of action in establishing the Pilbara strategic conservation
fund, even though companies including Fortescue Metals Group, Hamersley Iron
and Iron Ore Holdings agreed to pay funds over two years ago. Considering the
rising unemployment rate in the Pilbara, why has the minister still not
established this long-promised fund that could be increasing employment right
now?
AnswerView source ↗
The fund that the member refers to
has been a condition in a range of ministerial statements given through
environmental approvals in the Pilbara and it requires as part of an offset for
an aggregate range of projects throughout the Pilbara a contribution into an
amalgamated fund, with a view to funding environmental outcomes in that region.
In much the same vein, the good work we are doing on Dirk Hartog Island at the
moment, for example, is funded through offsets from the Gorgon project on
Barrow Island. As I have said, member for Gosnells, when asked previously, the
commitment to those conditions stands and those companies are well aware of the
requirement that they will have to pay into that fund. However, we have seen
over the last decade a once-in-a-generation—perhaps once in several
generations—upswing in mining activity in that region, and the offset
fund that comes with it equally presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for
some large-scale environmental outcomes across the region, funded by tens of
millions of dollars in offset funds. It is not something I am going to rush
into in terms of the set-up or the framework. The governance for this program
needs to be right. I have had a committee working with a range of stakeholders
including the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the Association of Mining and
Exploration Companies and some of the larger company contributors, and also the
Department of Environment Regulation, the Environmental Protection Authority
and others. We are working through the framework —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
will take the time to make sure that we get it right. There are tens of
millions of dollars involved, and it does not need to be rushed out the door,
because mistakes can be made and these things take time to make sure we get
them right. We are doing that work and that committee is very close to
reporting its recommendations to me.
has been a condition in a range of ministerial statements given through
environmental approvals in the Pilbara and it requires as part of an offset for
an aggregate range of projects throughout the Pilbara a contribution into an
amalgamated fund, with a view to funding environmental outcomes in that region.
In much the same vein, the good work we are doing on Dirk Hartog Island at the
moment, for example, is funded through offsets from the Gorgon project on
Barrow Island. As I have said, member for Gosnells, when asked previously, the
commitment to those conditions stands and those companies are well aware of the
requirement that they will have to pay into that fund. However, we have seen
over the last decade a once-in-a-generation—perhaps once in several
generations—upswing in mining activity in that region, and the offset
fund that comes with it equally presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for
some large-scale environmental outcomes across the region, funded by tens of
millions of dollars in offset funds. It is not something I am going to rush
into in terms of the set-up or the framework. The governance for this program
needs to be right. I have had a committee working with a range of stakeholders
including the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the Association of Mining and
Exploration Companies and some of the larger company contributors, and also the
Department of Environment Regulation, the Environmental Protection Authority
and others. We are working through the framework —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
will take the time to make sure that we get it right. There are tens of
millions of dollars involved, and it does not need to be rushed out the door,
because mistakes can be made and these things take time to make sure we get
them right. We are doing that work and that committee is very close to
reporting its recommendations to me.
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