ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AUTHORITY — GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS —BRIEFINGS
284. Hon PETER COLLIER to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the briefing by the
Environmental Protection Authority chairman on 21 February 2019.
(1) Given the
minister's previous comments that the briefing was high level, can he
confirm that he was not briefed by the EPA or his departments on the EPA's
plan to require 100 per cent carbon offsets for projects that produce over 100 000
tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per annum, either prior to or at
the briefing?
(2) Did the
minister receive any briefings, either verbal or written, or any other form of
advice from the EPA or his departments prior to the briefing?
(3) If yes to
(2), will the minister provide a copy of the briefing or advice?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) At a high
level, the briefing detailed that the proposed guidelines would consider all
scope 1 emissions from projects emitting over 100 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalent emissions per annum. Details including amounts, timing and
mechanisms for offsetting were not discussed.
(2) I have
regular meetings with the chairperson of the Environmental Protection
Authority. On 13 November 2018, 12 December 2018 and 31 January 2019, I received
verbal briefings on the EPA's broad approach to considering greenhouse
gas emissions.
(3) Not
applicable, as the briefings by the EPA chairperson were verbal.