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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1500 asked in the Legislative Council on 14 August 2018 by Hon Robin Chapple

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


Question

I refer to the Auditor-General’s Rich and Rare: Conservation of Threatened Species follow-up audit released in September 2017, and ask:
(a) the Auditor-General found conservation services for threatened species were operating in 2016 with less funding and 37 per cent less staff than in 2009, while during the same period, the number of threatened species had increased. Does this Government intend to reinstate past funding and staffing levels for conservation services in order to protect our threatened species;
(b) if no to (a), why not;
(c) if yes to (a), when;
(d) what is the total number of current Government recovery plans for threatened species including for animals, plants and ecological communities;
(e) of the total number of plans referred to in (d), what is the number that the Minister considers currently adequately funded;
(f) is the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions on track to implement improved reporting on threatened species by June, as stated in September it would; and
(g) if no to (f), why not and when will it occur?

Answered on 12 September 2018

a) No.

b) The State Government is focused on achieving budget repair. In these times of constrained resources, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) will continue to undertake priority actions within existing budget allocations to conserve and manage Western Australia’s threatened species.

c) Not applicable.

d) 359.

e) Recovery plans are not individually funded. Implementation of recovery actions is undertaken within priorities set by DBCA in consultation with recovery teams with actions undertaken either specifically for particular species and ecological communities, or as part of broader landscape management approaches.

f) DBCA continues to make substantial progress in developing an integrated species and ecological communities data management system to facilitate reporting on threatened species and communities. Phase 1 of the system is anticipated to be completed by December 2018. I am willing to organise a briefing on the system by DBCA for the Honourable Member.

g) Not applicable.