❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the government's decision to discontinue the Perth and Peel Strategic Assessment (SAPPR) and whether federal 'Nature Positive' reforms influenced this decision. The government denies federal influence and highlights ongoing efforts to improve state environmental approvals.
AnsweredQoN 78Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH AND PEEL STRATEGIC
ASSESSMENT — NATURE POSITIVE — COMMONWEALTH REFORM
78. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
On 22 December 2022, the Minister
for Environment announced via media release that the state government would
discontinue the strategic assessment of the Perth and Peel regions—SAPPR.
(1) Did the
intention of the federal Labor government to introduce Nature Positive reforms
have any bearing on the decision to abandon longstanding and bipartisan
attempts to reduce duplication between the state and federal environmental
approvals processes?
(2) Is the
abandonment of the SAPPR an acknowledgement that the state has given up on
environmental approvals reform?
ASSESSMENT — NATURE POSITIVE — COMMONWEALTH REFORM
78. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
On 22 December 2022, the Minister
for Environment announced via media release that the state government would
discontinue the strategic assessment of the Perth and Peel regions—SAPPR.
(1) Did the
intention of the federal Labor government to introduce Nature Positive reforms
have any bearing on the decision to abandon longstanding and bipartisan
attempts to reduce duplication between the state and federal environmental
approvals processes?
(2) Is the
abandonment of the SAPPR an acknowledgement that the state has given up on
environmental approvals reform?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide
the following answer.
(1) No.
(2) Improving environmental approvals systems under
the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is a key focus of the Cook government. In December last year, the
Cook government endorsed a review of the environmental approvals system
undertaken by Dr Paul Vogel and Mr David McFerran. The review found that
approvals processes have become overly complex, time-consuming and costly,
holding back economic development without any benefit to the environment.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon DARREN WEST : Recommendations
made by the review will overhaul the environmental approvals system and unlock
billions of dollars of investment into major job-creating projects. The
government has commenced implementation of the recommendations, many of which
build on existing work.
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide
the following answer.
(1) No.
(2) Improving environmental approvals systems under
the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is a key focus of the Cook government. In December last year, the
Cook government endorsed a review of the environmental approvals system
undertaken by Dr Paul Vogel and Mr David McFerran. The review found that
approvals processes have become overly complex, time-consuming and costly,
holding back economic development without any benefit to the environment.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon DARREN WEST : Recommendations
made by the review will overhaul the environmental approvals system and unlock
billions of dollars of investment into major job-creating projects. The
government has commenced implementation of the recommendations, many of which
build on existing work.
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