Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding a previous statement denying the existence of unconventional gas in WA, given an inquiry into hydraulic fracturing for unconventional gas. The Minister's response deflects responsibility and provides a definition of 'renewable energy'.

AnsweredQoN 1184Legislative Council
Asked
21 October 2014
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

UNCONVENTIONAL GAS — MINISTER FOR MINES AND
PETROLEUM — COMMENTS
1184. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to question
without notice 828 asked on 19 August 2014, in which the minister advised that ''There
is no such thing as unconventional gas in Western Australia''.
(1) If there is no such thing as unconventional
gas in Western Australia, to what does the Inquiry into the Implications for
Western Australia of Hydraulic Fracturing for Unconventional Gas, being
conducted by the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs, owe its
name?
(2) If there
is no such thing as unconventional gas in Western Australia, what is the
inquiry into the implications for Western Australia of hydraulic fracturing for
unconventional gas investigating?
(3) What does the minister understand the term ''unconventional
gas'' to mean?
(4) What does the minister understand the term ''renewable
energy'' to mean?
The PRESIDENT : Parts of that question are direct
questions to the committee rather than the minister, but the minister may like
to provide an answer.

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
(1) The
minister is not a member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public
Affairs and has no involvement with its operations and inquiries.
(2) The terms of reference are available from the environment
and public affairs committee.
(3) Not applicable. There is no accepted definition for the
term ''unconventional gas''.
(4) ''Renewable energy'' means energy from a
source that is not depleted when used.

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