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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 135 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 August 2017 by Hon Robin Chapple

Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

I refer to landclearing in the Kimberley, and ask:

(a) how many landclearing investigations have been undertaken by the Department of Environment Regulation in the Kimberley in the past five years;
(b) where were these investigations conducted, please provide pastoral lease name and name of the owner;
(c) how many of the investigations found that there had been landclearing without a permit;
(d) how many of the investigations that found landclearing had occurred without a permit resulted in prosecution;
(e) how many of the investigations that found landclearing had occurred without a permit resulted in a fine;
(f) if prosecutions resulted in a fine, what was the amount of the fine per hectare;
(g) how many investigations are currently being undertaken and where are these investigations taking place;
(h) how many hectares of land have been found to be cleared without a permit; and
(i) if the Minister will not provide answers for (a) to (h), please provide an explanation why?
Answered on 13 September 2017

(a) 33. Of these, five were undertaken between 1 July and 31 December 2012, six in 2013, five in 2014, five in 2015, seven in 2016 and five between 1 January and 30 June 2017.

(b) One investigation, which resulted in prosecution, took place in the Muller Ranges in the Shire of Halls Creek. SAWA Pty Ltd was the pastoral leaseholder. Information regarding the remainder of the investigations is not in the public domain and is confidential.

(c) 24.

(d) One. Of the others, three resulted in letters of education being issued, five resulted in letters of warning, nine were recorded for intelligence purposes, one was referred to the former Department of Mines and Petroleum, and in one case a prosecution was withdrawn on public interest grounds.

(e) One.

(f) The amount of the fine per hectare was approximately $53. The total amount of the fine was $40,000.

(g) Four investigations are currently taking place. As these matters are still under investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further.

(h) Approximately 2860 hectares.

(i) Not applicable.