❓ Mr. Tallentire questions the delay in establishing a strategic conservation fund for mining offsets. The Minister clarifies that offsets are required and a pooled fund is being explored, but requires robust governance.
AnsweredQoN 321Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STRATEGIC CONSERVATION FUND
321. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for
Environment:
I refer to the ministerial approval statement signed by the
minister that allowed multiple mining-related projects to proceed on the
condition that the proponents contribute to a strategic conservation fund.
(1) Given that
the minister has signed these statements and the mining companies have agreed
to pay the money into the fund, why can he not complete the simple task of
establishing the fund?
(2) How much money is intended to flow through this fund?
321. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for
Environment:
I refer to the ministerial approval statement signed by the
minister that allowed multiple mining-related projects to proceed on the
condition that the proponents contribute to a strategic conservation fund.
(1) Given that
the minister has signed these statements and the mining companies have agreed
to pay the money into the fund, why can he not complete the simple task of
establishing the fund?
(2) How much money is intended to flow through this fund?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I believe that the member for Gosnells raised this issue in The Sunday Times a couple of weeks ago.
Essentially, I think the member is mixing up his jelly and his custard a
little. There are two very separate distinct issues.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, ably assisted by the member for Girrawheen, I call you
both to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : The
member is correct; a range of mining approvals or ministerial statements have
been issued for projects in the Pilbara. In many instances, these have required
offsets to be delivered. Those companies will absolutely have to deliver on
those offsets. That is not in question for a second. To explain what offsets
means, offsets are essentially when there is a trade-off for environmental
values, and that trade-off needs to be met. First, that trade-off can be met by
immediate mitigation on the project itself; second, it can be met via like for
like—acquiring land with similar environmental values, which
immediately offsets it—and the third level, which should not be the
first priority, is for monetary offsets.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
Have you signed off on that?
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Yes.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells, I will give you a supplementary question. Minister, answer
the question, please.
Mr A.P. JACOB : As
I said, all those companies will be required to meet those offsets. The
Environmental Protection Authority issued a recommendation that as those
offsets accumulate across the Pilbara, they could be delivered through a
strategic fund or initiative that pools that offset funding and applies it to a
strategic or a Pilbara-wide facility. That idea certainly has very strong merit
and it is an idea that the government is actively exploring. That is a separate
issue. The first issue is offsets. Offsets will be required. The second issue
is whether we pool all those offsets from a variety of companies and deliver it
as one package through one account. That certainly has very strong merit and is
being explored. However, such a fund will ultimately pool with a lot of money.
It will have a lot of responsibility and it will need a robust governance
framework around it. That work is being done. I again say—the member
got this well and truly mixed up—that every one of those companies will
be required to deliver on their offsets.
I believe that the member for Gosnells raised this issue in The Sunday Times a couple of weeks ago.
Essentially, I think the member is mixing up his jelly and his custard a
little. There are two very separate distinct issues.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, ably assisted by the member for Girrawheen, I call you
both to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : The
member is correct; a range of mining approvals or ministerial statements have
been issued for projects in the Pilbara. In many instances, these have required
offsets to be delivered. Those companies will absolutely have to deliver on
those offsets. That is not in question for a second. To explain what offsets
means, offsets are essentially when there is a trade-off for environmental
values, and that trade-off needs to be met. First, that trade-off can be met by
immediate mitigation on the project itself; second, it can be met via like for
like—acquiring land with similar environmental values, which
immediately offsets it—and the third level, which should not be the
first priority, is for monetary offsets.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
Have you signed off on that?
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Yes.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells, I will give you a supplementary question. Minister, answer
the question, please.
Mr A.P. JACOB : As
I said, all those companies will be required to meet those offsets. The
Environmental Protection Authority issued a recommendation that as those
offsets accumulate across the Pilbara, they could be delivered through a
strategic fund or initiative that pools that offset funding and applies it to a
strategic or a Pilbara-wide facility. That idea certainly has very strong merit
and it is an idea that the government is actively exploring. That is a separate
issue. The first issue is offsets. Offsets will be required. The second issue
is whether we pool all those offsets from a variety of companies and deliver it
as one package through one account. That certainly has very strong merit and is
being explored. However, such a fund will ultimately pool with a lot of money.
It will have a lot of responsibility and it will need a robust governance
framework around it. That work is being done. I again say—the member
got this well and truly mixed up—that every one of those companies will
be required to deliver on their offsets.
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