CONSERVATION COMMISSION — ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY —
APPROVAL PROCESSES
152. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
(1) Is the
Conservation Commission able to freely express its opinion in Environmental Protection
Authority approval processes?
(2) Is the Conservation Commission free from interference by
political processes?
(3) Does the
EPA consider the Conservation Commission a key stakeholder in the Mangles Bay
marina proposal?
(4) Will the
minister explain why the community should have confidence in the role of the
Conservation Commission to act with independence and to advise the government
on policy?
(5) If the EPA
fails to consult the Conservation Commission on policy regarding state parks
during a public environmental review process, why should the community have
confidence in the EPA's role to protect our environment?
Hon HELEN
MORTON replied:
I thank the member for some notice
of this question.
(1)–(3) Yes.
(4) The
Conservation Commission seeks advice from a range of sources in the development
of policy advice to government, including the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
The Conservation Commission prepares independent advice to government based on
its research and consideration of issues.
(5) The Conservation
Commission liaises with the Department of Parks and Wildlife during public
environmental review processes, seeking advice from it and other sources. Where
the Conservation Commission's position is aligned with that of the
Department of Parks and Wildlife, the Conservation Commission will typically
not submit separate advice. However, in cases in which the Conservation
Commission's view is different from the department's position,
it will submit independent advice direct to the Environmental Protection
Authority.