❓ A Member of Parliament questions the Minister for Environment regarding the removal of a grant for a local litter cleanup volunteer, highlighting concerns about the decision's impact and fairness. The Minister acknowledges the volunteer's work and explains the decision was made independently by the Keep Australia Beautiful Council due to new governance requirements.
AnsweredQoN 695Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KEEP AUSTRALIA BEAUTIFUL
COUNCIL — COMMUNITY GRANTS
695. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I
refer the parliamentary secretary to a $1 500 annual grant given to Walpole
resident and litter hero, Michael Filby , by Keep Australia Beautiful WA
to offset some of the costs associated with picking up rubbish on 170 kilometres
of South Western Highway from Walpole to the Shire of Manjimup's
northern boundary with Bridgetown.
(1) Was the minister or parliamentary secretary aware
that this litter hero has had his valued support taken away?
(2) Does the minister support this
decision?
(3) Does the minister agree that
this is a mean-spirited decision by the government?
COUNCIL — COMMUNITY GRANTS
695. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I
refer the parliamentary secretary to a $1 500 annual grant given to Walpole
resident and litter hero, Michael Filby , by Keep Australia Beautiful WA
to offset some of the costs associated with picking up rubbish on 170 kilometres
of South Western Highway from Walpole to the Shire of Manjimup's
northern boundary with Bridgetown.
(1) Was the minister or parliamentary secretary aware
that this litter hero has had his valued support taken away?
(2) Does the minister support this
decision?
(3) Does the minister agree that
this is a mean-spirited decision by the government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
and the fact that there was some notice of the question—not a lot, but
some. I appreciate that.
(1)–(3)
I acknowledge the work Michael Filby does, and indeed all the volunteers who
get involved with Keep Australia Beautiful, to keep our environment clean by
going on litter drives. It is something that we very much appreciate. The Keep
Australia Beautiful Council, as the member would know, is a statutory body that has made a funding decision on community
grants independently of the Minister for Environment . I am advised that
Mr Filby has received funding from the KABC since 2012 to support his
involvement in litter clean-up activities, which has been fantastic. But the member
may not be aware that this year the KABC introduced improved governance
requirements to ensure the responsible allocation of public moneys. I think we
would also agree that probity around the granting of public moneys is very
important. This now requires an auspice organisation to be involved in that
application. Mr Filby is encouraged to submit an application for funding in
accordance with these new requirements that indeed apply to all applications
for funding through the KABC.
and the fact that there was some notice of the question—not a lot, but
some. I appreciate that.
(1)–(3)
I acknowledge the work Michael Filby does, and indeed all the volunteers who
get involved with Keep Australia Beautiful, to keep our environment clean by
going on litter drives. It is something that we very much appreciate. The Keep
Australia Beautiful Council, as the member would know, is a statutory body that has made a funding decision on community
grants independently of the Minister for Environment . I am advised that
Mr Filby has received funding from the KABC since 2012 to support his
involvement in litter clean-up activities, which has been fantastic. But the member
may not be aware that this year the KABC introduced improved governance
requirements to ensure the responsible allocation of public moneys. I think we
would also agree that probity around the granting of public moneys is very
important. This now requires an auspice organisation to be involved in that
application. Mr Filby is encouraged to submit an application for funding in
accordance with these new requirements that indeed apply to all applications
for funding through the KABC.
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