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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 886 asked in the Legislative Council on 30 August 2022 by Hon Dr Brad Pettitt

Question Directed to the: Minister for Emergency Services representing the Minister for Environment
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

(1) When was Western Australia's Biodiversity Audit 1 commenced?
(2) When was Audit 1 completed?
(3) When was the final report of findings and recommendations from Audit 1 published?
(4) When was Audit 2 commenced?
(5) When was Audit 2 terminated?
(6) How many experts/staff were involved in Audit 2?
(7) How many organisations were involved in Audit 2?
(8) What was the financial cost in undertaking Audit 2, including involvement of experts and other staff?
(9) Why was Audit 2 terminated before a final report and synopsis of findings was prepared?
(10) Why was no final report and analysis of data prepared for Audit 2, given the significant public funding and involvement of experts in its preparation?
(11) Has all of the scientific data collected for Audit 2 been made available to the public through the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions website:
(a) if no to (11), please explain what has been withheld and why?
(12) Given that the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has failed to complete Biodiversity Audit 2 more than 10 years after its commencement, will the Minister now direct DBCA to finalise Audit 2 and commence Biodiversity Audit 3 so that the public and decision-makers can have access to contemporary information about the state and trends of biodiversity in Western Australia:
(a) if no to (12), why not; and
(b) if yes to (12), when will it commence, and when will the final report be available?

Answered on 11 October 2022

(1) 2001.

(2) 2002.

(3) 2003.

(4) 2012.

(5) 2014.

(6) 110.

(7) One. The former Department of Parks and Wildlife compiled the Audit with input from internal and external experts.

(8) $571, 635.

(9) Biodiversity Audit 2 was concluded when data collation was complete and made available.

(10) A final report and analysis of data were not intended outputs of Biodiversity Audit 2. The findings and analysis of Biodiversity Audit 2 are available via an online database, which is a more effective means of making this information publicly available for ongoing use.

(11) No.

     (a) For some biodiversity assets the data is incomplete, and it is not appropriate to release incomplete datasets.

(12) No.

     (a) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is focused on bringing together biodiversity data through the formation of the Biodiversity Information Office (BIO). BIO will be WA’s data repository for biodiversity         data and was launched in June 2022.

     (b) Not applicable.