❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the EPA's funding sources, particularly concerning third-party contributions, Woodside Energy, and consultant payments, with a focus on the James Price Point development and offset negotiations. The answer provides details on grants, in-kind data, and consultant costs, clarifying the EPA's role in offset discussions.
AnsweredQoN 5780Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to funding and research data received by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the financial year 2010-2011, I ask —
(1) How much funding has the EPA received from third parties by way of gifts, grants, in kind data and/or environmental offsets?
(2) Of the funding set out in the answer to (1) above, which parties donated that funding, in what amounts, and in what form?
(3) What percentage of the EPA's income in the 2010-2011 financial year was from third parties in the form of grants, gifts, in kind data and/or environmental offsets?
(4) Did the EPA receive any grants, gifts, in kind data or environmental offsets from Woodside Energy Pty Ltd?
(5) During the financial year 2010-2011 the EPA is understood to have paid $2,633,290 for consultants and contractors. Can the Minister provide a full list of the consultants and contractors and payments made to the above?
(6) If not to (5), why not?
(7) Has the EPA been involved in any mining offset negotiations between the Western Australian Government, the Department of Environment and Conservation, Woodside and/or its Browse joint venture partners in relation to the proposed James Price Point development?
(8) If yes to (7), would the Minister provide full details?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(1) How much funding has the EPA received from third parties by way of gifts, grants, in kind data and/or environmental offsets?
(2) Of the funding set out in the answer to (1) above, which parties donated that funding, in what amounts, and in what form?
(3) What percentage of the EPA's income in the 2010-2011 financial year was from third parties in the form of grants, gifts, in kind data and/or environmental offsets?
(4) Did the EPA receive any grants, gifts, in kind data or environmental offsets from Woodside Energy Pty Ltd?
(5) During the financial year 2010-2011 the EPA is understood to have paid $2,633,290 for consultants and contractors. Can the Minister provide a full list of the consultants and contractors and payments made to the above?
(6) If not to (5), why not?
(7) Has the EPA been involved in any mining offset negotiations between the Western Australian Government, the Department of Environment and Conservation, Woodside and/or its Browse joint venture partners in relation to the proposed James Price Point development?
(8) If yes to (7), would the Minister provide full details?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 September 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
75 days
(1) As a general principle, gifts are not accepted. However, low value gifts or tokens are registered in accordance with the EPA/OEPA codes of conduct. For further details refer to Legislative Assembly question on notice 5089 (17 May 2011).
Grants received by the OEPA are detailed in its Annual Report 2010-2011 (pages 57 and 58.) It should be noted that no grants were received from the private sector.
With reference to 'in-kind data', the EPA and OEPA receive a range of information and data from third parties, including other government agencies, relating to proposals referred to the EPA under Part IV of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. This information is for the purposes of conducting environmental impact assessments and monitoring compliance with Ministerial Conditions. It is nonsensical to characteriseAs it is essential for these processes, this information is not considered to be as a gift, benefit or income to the Department.
Environmental offsets are a method of addressing significant residual impacts from development. They are applied according to published policies and procedures available on the OEPA's website. OEPA is not a beneficiary of offsets and does not receive or hold funds associated with them.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Gifts, in-kind data and offsets cannot beare not characterised as income of the agency. For grants refer to part (1).
(4) No.
(5) The Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) annual report for 2010/11 indicates that $2, 633, 290 was paid to consultants and contractors for the provision of supplies and services. The most significant service provider was the Department of Environment and Conservation for the provision of all corporate services at a cost of $2, 175, 753. These services are essential for the EPA to operate and include accommodation rental and outgoings, human resource services, financial services, information technology infrastructure and services etc.
The remaining $457 537 was for the provision of supplies and services received from a further 37 providers at an average cost of $12 366. [see tabled paper no]
(6) Not applicable.
(7)-(9) On behalf of the EPA, the OEPA is involved in offset discussions with proponents where significant residual impacts and risks are likely to remain after implementation of a proposal. As the James Price Point LNG precinct was a strategic proposal, it has no direct impact on the environment and therefore no offsets can be applied. However, the EPA's Report identifies the potential requirement for offsets for subsequent derived proposals.
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Grants received by the OEPA are detailed in its Annual Report 2010-2011 (pages 57 and 58.) It should be noted that no grants were received from the private sector.
With reference to 'in-kind data', the EPA and OEPA receive a range of information and data from third parties, including other government agencies, relating to proposals referred to the EPA under Part IV of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. This information is for the purposes of conducting environmental impact assessments and monitoring compliance with Ministerial Conditions. It is nonsensical to characteriseAs it is essential for these processes, this information is not considered to be as a gift, benefit or income to the Department.
Environmental offsets are a method of addressing significant residual impacts from development. They are applied according to published policies and procedures available on the OEPA's website. OEPA is not a beneficiary of offsets and does not receive or hold funds associated with them.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Gifts, in-kind data and offsets cannot beare not characterised as income of the agency. For grants refer to part (1).
(4) No.
(5) The Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) annual report for 2010/11 indicates that $2, 633, 290 was paid to consultants and contractors for the provision of supplies and services. The most significant service provider was the Department of Environment and Conservation for the provision of all corporate services at a cost of $2, 175, 753. These services are essential for the EPA to operate and include accommodation rental and outgoings, human resource services, financial services, information technology infrastructure and services etc.
The remaining $457 537 was for the provision of supplies and services received from a further 37 providers at an average cost of $12 366. [see tabled paper no]
(6) Not applicable.
(7)-(9) On behalf of the EPA, the OEPA is involved in offset discussions with proponents where significant residual impacts and risks are likely to remain after implementation of a proposal. As the James Price Point LNG precinct was a strategic proposal, it has no direct impact on the environment and therefore no offsets can be applied. However, the EPA's Report identifies the potential requirement for offsets for subsequent derived proposals.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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