❓ Question regarding the lack of a written report after an EPA officer's visit to South Australia to learn about uranium mining. The Minister defends the decision, stating briefings were provided to senior staff.
AnsweredQoN 816Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY — OFFICER VISIT TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA
I refer to my question without notice 811, which was asked last Thursday, and specifically to the minister’s advice that a written report was not prepared in relation to a visit to South Australia by an officer of the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority to gain a practical firsthand understanding of several aspects of uranium mining. (1) Is the fact that a written report was not prepared consistent with public service best practice guidelines? (2) Will the minister ask for a written report? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
I refer to my question without notice 811, which was asked last Thursday, and specifically to the minister’s advice that a written report was not prepared in relation to a visit to South Australia by an officer of the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority to gain a practical firsthand understanding of several aspects of uranium mining. (1) Is the fact that a written report was not prepared consistent with public service best practice guidelines? (2) Will the minister ask for a written report? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
(1) Is the fact that a written report was not prepared consistent with public service best practice guidelines? (2) Will the minister ask for a written report? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
(2) Will the minister ask for a written report? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
(3) If no to (2), why not? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
(1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
(1) Is the fact that a written report was not prepared consistent with public service best practice guidelines? (2) Will the minister ask for a written report? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
(2) Will the minister ask for a written report? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
(3) If no to (2), why not? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
(1)–(3) The member is correct; I did advise the house last week that I understood, following advice from the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority, that a written report was not prepared. However, detailed briefings were provided to the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Paul Vogel, and the then acting general manager of the office of the EPA. It is quite appropriate that that was undertaken. Obviously, as the house is aware, assessments are currently being undertaken by the EPA of uranium proposals. It was very appropriate that the officer went to South Australia, and that officer provided briefings, as I have outlined, to the chairman and to the then acting general manager. I believe that is an appropriate course of action.
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