❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for the Environment and Heritage regarding the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) handling of complaints and transparency, specifically concerning a tailings dam issue and the refusal to answer previous questions on notice. The Minister defends the DEP's actions, citing time constraints, the age of the case, and the lack of current environmental issues.
AnsweredQoN 801Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice Nos 663 of April 9 2003, 581 of March 20 2003 and the answers provided -
(1) Can the Minister explain why it was acceptable to provide an answer for part (12) number 581 to the Parliament concerning the DEP owning up to all mistakes it has made in relation to dealing with complaints, not just with Brookdale in the last 10 years, in part stating ‘The system of environmental protection is subject to many check and balances, many with legislative backing, appeal rights, Freedom of Information, public reporting and parliamentary scrutiny.’ given that the Minister to date will not allow parliamentary scrutiny by answering all of the questions on notice Nos 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392 of March 4 2003?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister stand by the statement for the answer for part (3) number 581 that ‘…Where mistakes are made, they are acknowledged.’?
(4) If yes to (3), will the Minister and the DEP acknowledge them by answering all of the questions on notice numbers 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392 of March 4 2003?
(5) If no to (3), why has this now changed?
(6) In relation to the answer for part (7) number 581 can the Minister state for what purpose the report was posted on the DEP website?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(1) Can the Minister explain why it was acceptable to provide an answer for part (12) number 581 to the Parliament concerning the DEP owning up to all mistakes it has made in relation to dealing with complaints, not just with Brookdale in the last 10 years, in part stating ‘The system of environmental protection is subject to many check and balances, many with legislative backing, appeal rights, Freedom of Information, public reporting and parliamentary scrutiny.’ given that the Minister to date will not allow parliamentary scrutiny by answering all of the questions on notice Nos 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392 of March 4 2003?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister stand by the statement for the answer for part (3) number 581 that ‘…Where mistakes are made, they are acknowledged.’?
(4) If yes to (3), will the Minister and the DEP acknowledge them by answering all of the questions on notice numbers 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392 of March 4 2003?
(5) If no to (3), why has this now changed?
(6) In relation to the answer for part (7) number 581 can the Minister state for what purpose the report was posted on the DEP website?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
29 days
(1) The tailings dam is no longer in use, has been covered by a waste dump and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is not aware of any current issues concerning ground water seepage. This matter would be time consuming to investigate, require the redirection of public officers away from other more important tasks and because the tailings dam is covered over, would not result in an improvement in the protection of the environment. (2) Answered by (1). (3) Yes. (4) I acknowledge that the Honourable Member does not seem to want to meet with the DEP. Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and associated records, I do not propose to pursue any further investigations of this matter. I would again encourage the Honourable Member to discuss this matter directly with the DEP staff to satisfy his concerns. (5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(2) Answered by (1). (3) Yes. (4) I acknowledge that the Honourable Member does not seem to want to meet with the DEP. Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and associated records, I do not propose to pursue any further investigations of this matter. I would again encourage the Honourable Member to discuss this matter directly with the DEP staff to satisfy his concerns. (5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(3) Yes. (4) I acknowledge that the Honourable Member does not seem to want to meet with the DEP. Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and associated records, I do not propose to pursue any further investigations of this matter. I would again encourage the Honourable Member to discuss this matter directly with the DEP staff to satisfy his concerns. (5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(4) I acknowledge that the Honourable Member does not seem to want to meet with the DEP. Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and associated records, I do not propose to pursue any further investigations of this matter. I would again encourage the Honourable Member to discuss this matter directly with the DEP staff to satisfy his concerns. (5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(7) Answered by (6).
(2) Answered by (1). (3) Yes. (4) I acknowledge that the Honourable Member does not seem to want to meet with the DEP. Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and associated records, I do not propose to pursue any further investigations of this matter. I would again encourage the Honourable Member to discuss this matter directly with the DEP staff to satisfy his concerns. (5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(3) Yes. (4) I acknowledge that the Honourable Member does not seem to want to meet with the DEP. Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and associated records, I do not propose to pursue any further investigations of this matter. I would again encourage the Honourable Member to discuss this matter directly with the DEP staff to satisfy his concerns. (5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(4) I acknowledge that the Honourable Member does not seem to want to meet with the DEP. Due to the passage of time and the nature of the case and associated records, I do not propose to pursue any further investigations of this matter. I would again encourage the Honourable Member to discuss this matter directly with the DEP staff to satisfy his concerns. (5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(5) This matter has been raised in the Parliament previously including in 1999 and 2000 and is therefore on the public record. Furthermore the tailings dam is covered with waste and the DEP is not aware of any current issues. (6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(6) The consultant’s report into air quality was posted on the DEP’s web site to ensure the community were informed. (7) Answered by (6).
(7) Answered by (6).
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