FRACKING OPERATIONS —
SITE REHABILITATION
17. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the Premier's
announcement last year that current petroleum leases in WA will be allowed to
be fracked.
(1) How will the
government guarantee that funds are appropriated from industry to facilitate
site rehabilitation specifically for sites that have been fracked, including
exploratory fracks?
(2) Considering
that the total rehabilitation liability estimate for mining in WA was $2.6 billion
as of 2015 and that the mining rehabilitation fund had a balance of only $149 million
as of December 2018, will the minister institute an environmental bonds system
for fracking operations, including exploratory fracks?
(3) What mechanisms will allow
farmers to veto fracking exploration and production on their land?
(4) What
mechanisms will allow traditional owners to veto fracking exploration and production
on their land?
(5) Will the
minister guarantee that any and all rehabilitation of frack sites will be paid
for by the tenement holder of that site?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The Minister for Mines and Petroleum has provided the following answers.
(1)–(4) The
state government has accepted all the recommendations of the report of the
Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in Western
Australia 2018. An implementation plan is being developed, including those
relating to site rehabilitation and land access.
(5) Site
rehabilitation is the responsibility of the tenement holder. Any legacy issues
will be addressed by (1).