❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Minister for Environment's handling of fire management plans and the adequacy of his apology to Margaret River residents following a fire. The Speaker notes the questions seek opinions, allowing the Minister discretion in answering.
AnsweredQoN 850Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT — MINISTERIAL STANDARDS
I refer to the minister’s standards as a minister. (1) Is it an acceptable practice for government ministers not to read critical documents relating to their portfolios because they may not understand them, as the minister failed to do with his agency’s fire management plans? (2) Why was the minister’s apology to Margaret River residents so appallingly inadequate? (3) Why should the minister retain this portfolio over this year’s fire season? The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION
I refer to the minister’s standards as a minister. (1) Is it an acceptable practice for government ministers not to read critical documents relating to their portfolios because they may not understand them, as the minister failed to do with his agency’s fire management plans? (2) Why was the minister’s apology to Margaret River residents so appallingly inadequate? (3) Why should the minister retain this portfolio over this year’s fire season? The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
(1) Is it an acceptable practice for government ministers not to read critical documents relating to their portfolios because they may not understand them, as the minister failed to do with his agency’s fire management plans? (2) Why was the minister’s apology to Margaret River residents so appallingly inadequate? (3) Why should the minister retain this portfolio over this year’s fire season? The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
(2) Why was the minister’s apology to Margaret River residents so appallingly inadequate? (3) Why should the minister retain this portfolio over this year’s fire season? The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
(3) Why should the minister retain this portfolio over this year’s fire season? The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
(1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
(1) Is it an acceptable practice for government ministers not to read critical documents relating to their portfolios because they may not understand them, as the minister failed to do with his agency’s fire management plans? (2) Why was the minister’s apology to Margaret River residents so appallingly inadequate? (3) Why should the minister retain this portfolio over this year’s fire season? The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
(2) Why was the minister’s apology to Margaret River residents so appallingly inadequate? (3) Why should the minister retain this portfolio over this year’s fire season? The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
(3) Why should the minister retain this portfolio over this year’s fire season? The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
The SPEAKER : Before you take that question, Minister for Environment, it is entirely your choice if you want to answer that question. Members, once again I am going to provide information to the house with respect to seeking opinions. If an opinion is sought, a minister does not necessarily have to answer it. I will give the opportunity to the minister. But definitely, member for Gosnells, an opinion is being sought in that question. Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
(1)–(3) I will make a brief comment to those questions. Can I first say that I totally accept responsibility for the issue. It is a tragic accident, and my heart goes out to those people who lost houses. Indeed, I also want to put on the record my sincere thanks to all the Department of Environment and Conservation staff, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff and the Forest Products Commission staff, the volunteers, and all the people who put in an immense effort to protect those houses in Margaret River in the Prevelly Park and Gnarabup area.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.