❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Environment regarding changes to EPA governance practices in 2008, specifically if the Premier's or Minister's offices authorised conflicted EPA board members to participate in assessment processes. The Minister denies knowledge and accuses the opposition of muckraking.
AnsweredQoN 648Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY —
GOVERNANCE PRACTICES CHANGE
648. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the changes to the Environmental Protection
Authority practices in late 2008 that authorised conflicted EPA board members, contrary
to law, to participate in assessment processes.
(1) Can the
minister rule out anyone from the Premier's or minister's
offices discussing or authorising this change with the EPA?
(2) Will the
minister release all documents and information surrounding the circumstances of
this change that occurred on his watch?
GOVERNANCE PRACTICES CHANGE
648. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the changes to the Environmental Protection
Authority practices in late 2008 that authorised conflicted EPA board members, contrary
to law, to participate in assessment processes.
(1) Can the
minister rule out anyone from the Premier's or minister's
offices discussing or authorising this change with the EPA?
(2) Will the
minister release all documents and information surrounding the circumstances of
this change that occurred on his watch?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Quite
simply, we can find no evidence whatsoever that the Ministers for Environment
of the day were advised of this change. As to what we are releasing in and around
this matter —
Several members interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I have now said three times that the Environmental Protection
Authority is an independent statutory authority. The act has no provision
whatsoever for the Minister for Environment of the day to dictate —
Point of Order
Mr M. McGOWAN : My question was
not about ministers. It was specifically about staffers within the minister's
or Premier's office authorising or discussing the change to the EPA.
That is the question; it is a point of relevance.
The SPEAKER : Can you please
address that question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. They would have been representative of the minister in
some way, shape or form. Either way, extensive work has gone into this.
Obviously, Justice Martin's ruling came down last August. We are being
incredibly open about this process—incredibly open.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second and third time; member
for Butler, for the second time; and member for Warnbro, for the second time.
Have you got anything further to say?
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
will say something further, if I may, Mr Speaker. Here we go again, straight
into the gutter on this matter. Within mere minutes of me briefing members
opposite that the Environmental Protection Amendment (Validation) Bill 2014 was
coming in, they have sought to smear one of the most senior public servants in
this state; the senior public servant that they, when in government, appointed
as director general of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. There is no
low that the opposition will not sink to; there is no individual that it will
not pursue in its pursuit of muckraking people.
Extensive work has gone into this and we have been incredibly
open. I have tabled the list of projects. There is no requirement for me to
table that list of projects. I have sought to be as open and accountable as
possible at every stage of this matter. I tabled that list and look forward to
debating the bill in the house. The key question is: what are members opposite
going to do on this matter? The significance —
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the second time.
Minister can, you wind it up, please.
Mr A.P. JACOB : As I said, it is a key piece of legislation
and it is incredibly important to this state that we address it as quickly as
possible.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I call you to order for the second time.
simply, we can find no evidence whatsoever that the Ministers for Environment
of the day were advised of this change. As to what we are releasing in and around
this matter —
Several members interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I have now said three times that the Environmental Protection
Authority is an independent statutory authority. The act has no provision
whatsoever for the Minister for Environment of the day to dictate —
Point of Order
Mr M. McGOWAN : My question was
not about ministers. It was specifically about staffers within the minister's
or Premier's office authorising or discussing the change to the EPA.
That is the question; it is a point of relevance.
The SPEAKER : Can you please
address that question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Thank you, Mr Speaker. They would have been representative of the minister in
some way, shape or form. Either way, extensive work has gone into this.
Obviously, Justice Martin's ruling came down last August. We are being
incredibly open about this process—incredibly open.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second and third time; member
for Butler, for the second time; and member for Warnbro, for the second time.
Have you got anything further to say?
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
will say something further, if I may, Mr Speaker. Here we go again, straight
into the gutter on this matter. Within mere minutes of me briefing members
opposite that the Environmental Protection Amendment (Validation) Bill 2014 was
coming in, they have sought to smear one of the most senior public servants in
this state; the senior public servant that they, when in government, appointed
as director general of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. There is no
low that the opposition will not sink to; there is no individual that it will
not pursue in its pursuit of muckraking people.
Extensive work has gone into this and we have been incredibly
open. I have tabled the list of projects. There is no requirement for me to
table that list of projects. I have sought to be as open and accountable as
possible at every stage of this matter. I tabled that list and look forward to
debating the bill in the house. The key question is: what are members opposite
going to do on this matter? The significance —
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the second time.
Minister can, you wind it up, please.
Mr A.P. JACOB : As I said, it is a key piece of legislation
and it is incredibly important to this state that we address it as quickly as
possible.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I call you to order for the second time.
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