❓ Dr. Thomas questions the disparity in wetland protection scrutiny between private land development and government infrastructure projects. Minister McGowan avoids directly answering, claiming no decision on the wetlands policy has been made and accusing Dr. Thomas of opposing infrastructure projects.
AnsweredQoN 358Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SWAN COASTAL PLAIN WETLANDS PROTECTION POLICY
I refer to the minister’s disdain for property owners, as evidenced in his application for the wetlands protection policy for the Swan coastal plain. (1) Why are projects overseen by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, including the Perth-Mandurah railway and Mitchell Freeway extension, that pass over important wetlands apparently immune from the same level of scrutiny and control as is applied to land being developed by private landholders? I am referring to the Spectacles wetland area, Bulrush Swamp, Leda wetland and Pickle Swamp, and I could name another dozen or so. (2) Will the minister undertake to report to this house about how much Swan coastal plain wetlands has been altered or developed in all infrastructure projects undertaken by his government since 2001? Mr M. McGOWAN
I refer to the minister’s disdain for property owners, as evidenced in his application for the wetlands protection policy for the Swan coastal plain. (1) Why are projects overseen by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, including the Perth-Mandurah railway and Mitchell Freeway extension, that pass over important wetlands apparently immune from the same level of scrutiny and control as is applied to land being developed by private landholders? I am referring to the Spectacles wetland area, Bulrush Swamp, Leda wetland and Pickle Swamp, and I could name another dozen or so. (2) Will the minister undertake to report to this house about how much Swan coastal plain wetlands has been altered or developed in all infrastructure projects undertaken by his government since 2001? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
(1) Why are projects overseen by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, including the Perth-Mandurah railway and Mitchell Freeway extension, that pass over important wetlands apparently immune from the same level of scrutiny and control as is applied to land being developed by private landholders? I am referring to the Spectacles wetland area, Bulrush Swamp, Leda wetland and Pickle Swamp, and I could name another dozen or so. (2) Will the minister undertake to report to this house about how much Swan coastal plain wetlands has been altered or developed in all infrastructure projects undertaken by his government since 2001? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
(2) Will the minister undertake to report to this house about how much Swan coastal plain wetlands has been altered or developed in all infrastructure projects undertaken by his government since 2001? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
(1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
(1) Why are projects overseen by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, including the Perth-Mandurah railway and Mitchell Freeway extension, that pass over important wetlands apparently immune from the same level of scrutiny and control as is applied to land being developed by private landholders? I am referring to the Spectacles wetland area, Bulrush Swamp, Leda wetland and Pickle Swamp, and I could name another dozen or so. (2) Will the minister undertake to report to this house about how much Swan coastal plain wetlands has been altered or developed in all infrastructure projects undertaken by his government since 2001? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
(2) Will the minister undertake to report to this house about how much Swan coastal plain wetlands has been altered or developed in all infrastructure projects undertaken by his government since 2001? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
(1)-(2) From the tone of the question, I assume the member for Capel is opposed to the extension of the freeway. Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Dr S.C. Thomas : I asked how much wetland has been over-run. Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We can only draw the conclusion that he is opposed to the railway. Is he opposed to the railway? Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Dr S.C. Thomas : I am asking for a level playing field. Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The government has not made any decision about the Swan coastal plain wetlands environmental protection policy. The central premise of the question by the member for Capel is incorrect. Members should not be surprised, I suppose, that his central premise is incorrect because it often is in this place. I will repeat: the government has not made any decision about that matter at this stage. I note that the “State of Environment Report” that was handed down last week or the week before noted that the loss of wetlands is a significant issue for this state, the environment and the Swan coastal plain. It found that Western Australia is losing wetlands at the rate of the equivalent of two football fields a day. That is a significant issue. The government will examine that issue in due course. The government has not made a decision about the wetlands EPP.
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