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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 196 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 3 June 2021 by Dr D.J. Honey

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

OUTER HARBOUR — COCKBURN SOUND

196. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Environment:

I refer to WA Labor's plan to build an outer harbour over the important benthic marine environment of Cockburn Sound.

(1) Given the magnitude of the environmental damage that will be caused to the benthic primary producer habitat when the outer harbour is built, has the minister read the Environmental Protection Authority's 2006 advice on the impact of an outer harbour?

(2) If so, can the minister please outline to the house the current status of the benthic primary producer habitat in the Cockburn Sound marine environment?

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Members!

Ms A. SANDERSON replied:

(1)–(2) When it comes to environmental vandalism, I think we need look no further than the WA Liberal Party and what it proposed over the Beeliar wetlands. Let us be real. That was a shocking project, which would not even have solved the issues at Fremantle port. With regard to the member's specific question, I am happy to provide that information on notice. But I can tell the member that the Westport project will create thousands of jobs and relieve pressure on the roads in Fremantle. It is a key election commitment. The WA Liberal Party has no credibility when it comes to the environment—absolutely none. It is frankly quite shocking to hear from the member on this issue. He worked for Alcoa for many, many years and supported Alcoa for many, many years. Now he is claiming to be supporting the environment. When we came to government, there was zero action on climate change.

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the National Party, the question has been asked by the Leader of the Liberal Party. I am prepared to tolerate some interjection from him in order to elucidate further answers, but I am not going to have a wall of interjections while the minister is trying to respond.

Ms A. SANDERSON: The Westport project, like every other government and private infrastructure project that has significant impacts, will go through an Environmental Protection Authority assessment. That is what the project will go through and that will determine the best outcome for the environment. When we came to government, we could not even get a public servant to talk about climate change. They were used to being ground down by the former government; they would send up information, and documents would be sent back from across ministers' offices—not just one—with ''Take out 'climate change'.'' Do not stand in here and claim to be some champion of the environment. All major projects go through an EPA assessment, and that is the appropriate channel. We have some of the most stringent assessments and processes in the world for environmental outcomes. I have full confidence in that assessment.