ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(COST RECOVERY) REGULATIONS 2021
864. Hon
TJORN SIBMA to the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the pricing model
developed on behalf of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for
the purposes of the Environmental Protection (Cost Recovery) Regulations 2021.
(1) Do industry stakeholders concur with the underlying
assumptions of the pricing model developed by Lisa Byrne Consulting and
validated by EY?
(2) If not, can
the minister account for the divergence of opinion between DWER and the
industry on the model's assumptions?
(3) Has DWER invoked the inclusion of its mandated
non-disclosure clauses in contracts with both consultants, as the
justification for not providing industry stakeholders with the documents and
data generated in the development of the pricing model?
(4) If yes, can
DWER waive its privilege and provide these documents to industry to facilitate
genuine consultation?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the
Minister for Environment.
(1)–(4) The Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation—DWER—consultation on implementation of cost
recovery for part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 closed on 22 October
2021. DWER is still undertaking its review of the submissions received. As
advised through the answer to question without notice 824, stakeholders were
offered direct briefings on the documents and data that informed the cost
recovery model as part of the consultation process. The honourable member has
submitted a separate question on notice requesting a copy of these documents.
DWER continues to work with the authors regarding the authority to release this
information, and an answer to this question will be provided by the due date.