❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Environment regarding governance changes within the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in 2008 that potentially jeopardised billions of dollars of investment. The Minister refutes the claims and accuses the opposition of historical revisionism and biased appointments.
AnsweredQoN 649Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AUTHORITY — GOVERNANCE PRACTICES CHANGE
649. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Environment:
I have a
supplementary question. Considering that these failures potentially jeopardise
billions of dollars of investment in Western Australia necessitating the
passing of this validation act will the minister hold an inquiry into how this
has occurred and who was responsible for these changes in late 2008 that
resulted in a potential calamity for this state?
PROTECTION AUTHORITY — GOVERNANCE PRACTICES CHANGE
649. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Environment:
I have a
supplementary question. Considering that these failures potentially jeopardise
billions of dollars of investment in Western Australia necessitating the
passing of this validation act will the minister hold an inquiry into how this
has occurred and who was responsible for these changes in late 2008 that
resulted in a potential calamity for this state?
AnswerView source ↗
As I said, members
opposite need to be very careful what they wish for in this matter. In all 25
of those cases, the opposition will find that conflicted members or members
with an apprehension of bias were appointed by members opposite.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee and member for Butler.
Mr A.P. JACOB : I completely refute the opposition's
attempt to rewrite history and what has happened by implying that I somehow
changed the policy. That is absolute rubbish. Anybody who knows how this
process works and the environmental —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : Anyone who knows how the Environmental
Protection Act works knows that is absolute rubbish. The Environmental Protection
Authority is indeed a robust and independent organisation. It is completely
independent of government in how it operates.
opposite need to be very careful what they wish for in this matter. In all 25
of those cases, the opposition will find that conflicted members or members
with an apprehension of bias were appointed by members opposite.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Willagee and member for Butler.
Mr A.P. JACOB : I completely refute the opposition's
attempt to rewrite history and what has happened by implying that I somehow
changed the policy. That is absolute rubbish. Anybody who knows how this
process works and the environmental —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : Anyone who knows how the Environmental
Protection Act works knows that is absolute rubbish. The Environmental Protection
Authority is indeed a robust and independent organisation. It is completely
independent of government in how it operates.
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