Question On Notice No. 2277 asked in the Legislative Council on 27 June 2019 by Hon Diane Evers
Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the Minister's response to my question without notice 102 asked on 20 February 2019, and I ask:
(a) does the brief overview of environmental issues in the annual reports of the Environmental protection Authority (EPA) meet the State's obligations to the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment;
(b) is the Minister aware of the document entitled "Core Environmental Indicators for Reporting on the State of the Environment" that was published by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) in 2000;
(c) does the brief overview of environmental issues in the annual reports of the EPA cover the issues specified in this ANZECC document;
(d) why has the Western Australian Government chosen to abstain from State of the Environment reporting when every other State and the Commonwealth carries out this activity regularly; and
(e) is the Minister aware that the Commonwealth is considering delegating its responsibilities for State of the Environment Reporting to the States?
Answered on 22 August 2019
(a) I understand that the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment was signed in 1992 by the Commonwealth, States and Territories governments to facilitate a cooperative national approach to the environment. I am advised that this Agreement does not obligate parties to conduct State of the Environment reporting.
(b) Yes
(c)-(d) The Western Australian Government provides input into the Commonwealth Government’s State of the Environment reporting for Australia, which covers the environmental themes outlined in the ANZECC document. The Western Government also discusses actions to improve Australia’s environment in high-level forums such as the National Environment Protection Council, Meetings of Environment Ministers, Heads of Environmental Protection Agencies meetings and jurisdictional working groups. I also understand that not all State and Territory governments carry out regular State of the Environment reporting.
(e) No