❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the existence and details of Fremantle Port's emergency response plan for lead carbonate export. Hon Simon O'Brien confirms a plan exists but declines to provide specifics, defending the stringent transport conditions and questioning the need for concern.
AnsweredQoN 929Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FREMANTLE PORT — LEAD EXPORT
I refer to the imminent export of lead carbonate from the port of Fremantle. (1) Does the port of Fremantle have an emergency response plan to respond in the event of an incident involving the transportation and loading of lead carbonate? (2) If yes to (1), what is it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
I refer to the imminent export of lead carbonate from the port of Fremantle. (1) Does the port of Fremantle have an emergency response plan to respond in the event of an incident involving the transportation and loading of lead carbonate? (2) If yes to (1), what is it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
(1) Does the port of Fremantle have an emergency response plan to respond in the event of an incident involving the transportation and loading of lead carbonate? (2) If yes to (1), what is it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
(2) If yes to (1), what is it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
(1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
(1) Does the port of Fremantle have an emergency response plan to respond in the event of an incident involving the transportation and loading of lead carbonate? (2) If yes to (1), what is it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
(2) If yes to (1), what is it? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
(1)-(2) I thank the honourable member for her question and interest in this matter. By her asking the question, it gives me the opportunity to inject some reality and reason into a fairly troublesome community debate. Yes, there are comprehensive plans at all of our ports, including Fremantle, for all contingencies that may arise in the handling of various cargoes, materials and all sorts of operations. Specifically, the Minister for Environment has said on many occasions that the conditions required for the transport of this material from its source to its place of export are strenuous, and, frankly, they are over the top. However, I am sure the opposition will agree that they are appropriate because they are the same conditions that were mooted and supported when members opposite were in government last year. That is where they come from. If anything, they have been strengthened. In response to question (2), the response mechanisms are certainly in place. I urge the member to consider the question: response to what? This is a product that is securely packaged, which is being transported by rail to a port; it is like many other materials. I do not know what more the member wants me to say. I am certainly not in a position to say what is in the Fremantle port’s response plan. It is unreasonable to ask that without notice.
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