❓ A Member of Parliament questions the Minister for Environment and Heritage regarding unanswered questions about a tailings dam and seeks clarification on the department's handling of the matter. The Minister offers a meeting with departmental staff instead of providing detailed written answers.
AnsweredQoN 663Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to questions on notice Nos 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392 of March 4 2003 -
(1) Can the Minister explain why she is not being open and accountable by asking the Department to provide answers to all of these questions referred to above?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Has Mr Harvey Johnstone or Mr Peter Skitmore who were both involved in these matters left the Department?
(4) If yes to (3), can the Minister state on what specific dates each respective officer left the Department?
(5) Can the Minister explain why she is prepared to offer myself a meeting with Departmental staff and representatives from her office to discuss the concerns raised, yet is not prepared to answer on the public record all of the questions I have asked?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister explain how Departmental staff and representatives from the Minister’s office can factually discuss the concerns raised in all of the questions referred to above given the Minister is clearly already avoiding answering all of the questions?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Can the Minister explain how Departmental staff or representatives from her office can discuss the concerns raised without having conducted any research on all of these matters to be able to give logical and constructive answers?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Will the Minister now ask the Department to provide clear, concise and relevant answers to all the questions raised in the above referred to questions?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(1) Can the Minister explain why she is not being open and accountable by asking the Department to provide answers to all of these questions referred to above?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Has Mr Harvey Johnstone or Mr Peter Skitmore who were both involved in these matters left the Department?
(4) If yes to (3), can the Minister state on what specific dates each respective officer left the Department?
(5) Can the Minister explain why she is prepared to offer myself a meeting with Departmental staff and representatives from her office to discuss the concerns raised, yet is not prepared to answer on the public record all of the questions I have asked?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister explain how Departmental staff and representatives from the Minister’s office can factually discuss the concerns raised in all of the questions referred to above given the Minister is clearly already avoiding answering all of the questions?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Can the Minister explain how Departmental staff or representatives from her office can discuss the concerns raised without having conducted any research on all of these matters to be able to give logical and constructive answers?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Will the Minister now ask the Department to provide clear, concise and relevant answers to all the questions raised in the above referred to questions?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 May 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
35 days
(1) I am advised that these events occurred over nine years ago. The tailings dam is no longer in use and had been covered by a waste dump and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is not aware of any current issues concerning ground water seepage. If the Honourable Member has an issue with the current condition of the tailings dam covered with the waste material, I will ask the DEP to provide advice on it. (2) Answered by (1). (3) Mr Harvey Johnstone has left the DEP. (4) Mr Johnstone left the DEP on 15 October 2001. (5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. As the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues, I am providing you with the opportunity to raise your concerns directly with the DEP. (6) Answered by (5). (7) As I have alluded to in Answer (5), I am offering the Honourable Member the opportunity to discuss his issues directly with the DEP. (8) Answered by (7). (9) I consider that the DEP will be better placed to advise on the matter if it can discuss it with you first hand. As I have already stated the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. The issues you raise were addressed some years ago and there is currently no active case open on the matter. (10)Answered (9). (11) No. I am offering a meeting with DEP officers to provide the Honourable Member with the opportunity to clarify his issues directly with the Department. (12) I am advised that because of the passage of time and the fact that some of the advice provided at that time was based on opinions formed by officers at that time, some of whom have left the department, a detailed investigation into the historical files would take some time. I would prefer that the Honourable Member accepted his offer of a meeting before considering requesting the DEP to conduct such an investigation.
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