Mr Rundle questions the Premier about delays in EPA project approvals, accusing the government of last-minute attempts to cover failures before the election. The Premier defends the reforms, citing the Vogel-McFerran review and challenges the opposition to reveal their policies.

AnsweredQoN 836Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 November 2024
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AUTHORITY — PROJECT APPROVALS
836. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I
have a supplementary question. The government's ecosystem of investment
has seen approvals blow out by 53 days. Is this latest announcement just a last-ditch
attempt to paper over the government's failures before the election
instead of tackling the real issues stifling WA's mining sector?

AnswerView source ↗

The reforms we brought in were
informed by the Vogel–McFerran review. It handed down its report about
this time last year, so it is not last minute. We have now implemented over
half of the Vogel–McFerran review's recommendations, with a key
component of that being the legislation that has already passed in good time
through this Parliament. Again, it is not last minute. But we are just 116 days
from the election, so I ask members opposite: What are their policies in this
area? How are they going to protect the environment while at the same time
making sure that we provide support to
proponents? What are their policies? What on earth do they stand for, because no-one
knows?
That is why members opposite are a risk
to the Western Australian economy—the strongest economy in Australia. They are a risk to Western Australian jobs and
members of the Western Australian community cannot risk their vote on
the Liberals and Nationals WA. Perish the thought that they ever find their way
to the government benches!

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