❓ Hon Ben Dawkins questions the Premier regarding communication between former Premier McGowan, the EPA, and industry groups like Woodside, specifically concerning a phone call mentioned in an ABC article. The Premier refers to past media reports and public comments from Dr. Hatton, the former EPA chair, defending the conversation.
AnsweredQoN 1036Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY — PREMIER M cGOWAN
1036. Hon BEN DAWKINS to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I
refer the Premier to the news article dated 10 September 2023 from Ms Kathryn
Diss of the ABC and the phone call between former Premier Mark McGowan and the
head of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Tom Hatton, referred
to in the article.
(1) Was there any
correspondence or conversation between the former Premier and any industry group
or companies such as Woodside prior to the phone call?
(2) If so, can
the Premier table the correspondence and any file note; and, if not, why not?
(3) Will the Premier refer this matter to the
Corruption and Crime Commission and the parliamentary inspector for
investigation?
1036. Hon BEN DAWKINS to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I
refer the Premier to the news article dated 10 September 2023 from Ms Kathryn
Diss of the ABC and the phone call between former Premier Mark McGowan and the
head of the Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Tom Hatton, referred
to in the article.
(1) Was there any
correspondence or conversation between the former Premier and any industry group
or companies such as Woodside prior to the phone call?
(2) If so, can
the Premier table the correspondence and any file note; and, if not, why not?
(3) Will the Premier refer this matter to the
Corruption and Crime Commission and the parliamentary inspector for
investigation?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The matter raised by
the member was detailed comprehensively in media reports in 2019.
For the record, I refer the member to
public comments made by the former chair of the Environmental Protection Agency,
Dr Tom Hatton, to an article published by ABC Online on 14 March 2019. He said —
''My conversation with the
Premier today was respectful, it was measured, it was informative, I didn't
feel pressured.
''He was giving me feedback
from industry that I was already getting from industry, so there were no
surprises there.
�
''We
remain independent in terms of what we do with that information and nothing has
changed there.
the member was detailed comprehensively in media reports in 2019.
For the record, I refer the member to
public comments made by the former chair of the Environmental Protection Agency,
Dr Tom Hatton, to an article published by ABC Online on 14 March 2019. He said —
''My conversation with the
Premier today was respectful, it was measured, it was informative, I didn't
feel pressured.
''He was giving me feedback
from industry that I was already getting from industry, so there were no
surprises there.
�
''We
remain independent in terms of what we do with that information and nothing has
changed there.
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