A parliamentary exchange regarding Magellan Metals' environmental compliance, featuring accusations of inaction and political point-scoring. The Premier defends the government's regulatory approach, citing other environmental issues and Magellan's shutdown as evidence of effectiveness.

AnsweredQoN 188Legislative Assembly
Asked
6 April 2011
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

MAGELLAN METALS — CONDITIONS BREACH
I have a supplementary question. When will the Premier honour the requirement to be a good regulator of environmentally damaging actions in this state? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

This government is a good regulator and it will take positions on important environmental issues through the proper process. This issue is one; the proposed coalmine in Margaret River is another; the proposed development of Straits Resources in Exmouth was another. Mr F.M. Logan : Will Cockburn Cement be another? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the issues surrounding Cockburn Cement are serious. We do not in any way disregard environmental issues, particularly where there is contamination in water or on land. Mr C.J. Tallentire : Prove it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think we are, but we do not jump at issues like the member for Gosnells might. We will deal with it properly. Mr M. McGowan : Send another rocket. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: This government is a good regulator and it will take positions on important environmental issues through the proper process. This issue is one; the proposed coalmine in Margaret River is another; the proposed development of Straits Resources in Exmouth was another. Mr F.M. Logan : Will Cockburn Cement be another? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the issues surrounding Cockburn Cement are serious. We do not in any way disregard environmental issues, particularly where there is contamination in water or on land. Mr C.J. Tallentire : Prove it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think we are, but we do not jump at issues like the member for Gosnells might. We will deal with it properly. Mr M. McGowan : Send another rocket. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
This government is a good regulator and it will take positions on important environmental issues through the proper process. This issue is one; the proposed coalmine in Margaret River is another; the proposed development of Straits Resources in Exmouth was another. Mr F.M. Logan : Will Cockburn Cement be another? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the issues surrounding Cockburn Cement are serious. We do not in any way disregard environmental issues, particularly where there is contamination in water or on land. Mr C.J. Tallentire : Prove it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think we are, but we do not jump at issues like the member for Gosnells might. We will deal with it properly. Mr M. McGowan : Send another rocket. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr F.M. Logan : Will Cockburn Cement be another? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the issues surrounding Cockburn Cement are serious. We do not in any way disregard environmental issues, particularly where there is contamination in water or on land. Mr C.J. Tallentire : Prove it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think we are, but we do not jump at issues like the member for Gosnells might. We will deal with it properly. Mr M. McGowan : Send another rocket. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the issues surrounding Cockburn Cement are serious. We do not in any way disregard environmental issues, particularly where there is contamination in water or on land. Mr C.J. Tallentire : Prove it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think we are, but we do not jump at issues like the member for Gosnells might. We will deal with it properly. Mr M. McGowan : Send another rocket. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr C.J. Tallentire : Prove it. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think we are, but we do not jump at issues like the member for Gosnells might. We will deal with it properly. Mr M. McGowan : Send another rocket. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think we are, but we do not jump at issues like the member for Gosnells might. We will deal with it properly. Mr M. McGowan : Send another rocket. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr M. McGowan : Send another rocket. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is a cynical, smart alec response. The member for Rockingham should calm down; he has had a nice lunch and behaved himself fairly well, I thought! He should calm down for a moment. Just think: a letter was sent to the company. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr M. McGowan : You were watching me during my lunch were you? You sat Peter Conran next to me to keep an eye on me did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A letter was sent, yes, expressing a point of view. They have had views from the EPA and from the minister. I do not think it was a coincidence with this last transgression that Magellan has shut down the operation. I think it makes the point.

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