ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(COST RECOVERY) REGULATIONS 2021
799. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I
refer to the consultation draft of the Environmental Protection (Cost Recovery)
Regulations 2021, dated September 2021.
(1) On what dates, with whom, and via what means, did
the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation provide and then
discuss the contents of the proposed regulations with stakeholders?
(2) What issues were raised with
DWER during these consultations?
(3) When does the
government intend to gazette these new regulations and when are they
anticipated to come into effect?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation commenced consultation on
implementing cost recovery for part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986
on 20 September 2021. A discussion paper and draft regulations were published
on DWER's website when the consultation commenced.
DWER provided detailed briefings to
the Conservation Council of Western Australia, the Environmental Defenders
Office, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, the Australian
Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, the Western Australian Local
Government Association, the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand,
the Environmental Consultants Association (WA), the Association of Mining and
Exploration Companies, and the Urban Development Institute of Australia Western
Australia Division Incorporated. These briefings occurred on 30 September, and
1, 5 and 12 October 2021.
(2) DWER is still
undertaking consultation on cost recovery for part IV of the EP act. The
consultation period closes on 22 October 2021. The department will publish a consultation
summary report setting out the key issues raised.
(3) The timing of
finalising the regulations is subject to the outcome of the consultation and
will be a decision of the government. DWER is working towards the regulations
being finalised and fees coming into effect at the beginning of 2022.