Fremantle Port- Lead Export

fremantle port — lead export

770. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister for Environment:

(1) Will the minister provide her reasons for approving the transport of lead by rail through 22 suburban areas to Fremantle port as lead carbonate powder, thereby making it impossible to guarantee that contamination will not occur?

(2) Can the minister also provide her justification for failing to consider the alternative option of transporting solid blocks of lead produced through an economically viable alumina-based smelter run by Griffin Mining Ltd, which would eliminate the possibility of contamination?

Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied:

I thank the member for her question. Did the member give notice of that question? I am happy to answer it but I have not actually received it.

Hon Lynn MacLaren: Sorry, I did.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, if you do not have the question, it is up to you whether you answer it now.

Hon DONNA FARAGHER: I have not received the question but I am happy to answer it.

Hon Lynn MacLaren: If the minister could provide a better answer with some time, I am happy for her to take some time. I could maybe ask another question instead.

The PRESIDENT: That is a good try! You have been away for a week! Minister, do you want to answer the question?

Hon Lynn MacLaren: I could ask a shorter, easier question.

Hon DONNA FARAGHER: I am happy to answer that question. I thank the member for her question. If she has a further question, I am happy to answer it.

(1)-(2) The decision made last Thursday was a follow-on from a decision made in February of this year. That decision was that lead could be transported through to the port of Fremantle with very, very stringent environmental conditions. I remind the house that this decision was given in-principle approval by the previous government. It had agreed that this proposal could go ahead, subject to strict conditions. It was actually David Templeman who said that it could go ahead. As a result of the early calling of the election, the final decision was not made. As a result I was required —

Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich interjected.

Hon DONNA FARAGHER: Does Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich want to listen to the answer?

Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich: We did not make a final decision.

The PRESIDENT: Order, members!

Hon DONNA FARAGHER: It is amazing how the Labor Party changes its mind!

The PRESIDENT: Order! Let the minister complete her answer without interjection.

Hon DONNA FARAGHER: Thank you, Mr President. I find it amazing how the Labor Party can talk about this. I find it really interesting that it has not asked a question about this since March this year, before the Fremantle by-election, when, all of a sudden, it was of interest to the Labor Party and it decided to change its view. We have not had a question since then, until today.

However, with respect to the issue, I received very clear advice earlier this year from officers, ranging from the State Solicitor’s Office to the Appeals Convenor and others, to make sure that if this was to go ahead, the conditions that I put in place were the most stringent of their kind. The clear advice to me is that they are the strictest ever for a proposal of this kind.

With respect to the question of Griffin Mining, obviously any proponent can put forward a proposal to the Environmental Protection Authority to be assessed. It will be looked at by me and it will go through all the normal processes. Magellan was already in the pipeline. It had already been given in-principle approval by the previous government back in 2007. I was required to make a decision on that project.

Hon Sally Talbot: That is why we do not ask the minister questions; she does not know the answers!

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister has the responsibility of answering a two-part question that was put. I think she is onto the second part of it now. The minister addresses her comments through me without interjection. She is not obliged to answer any further questions that are put by interjection or any other means.

Hon DONNA FARAGHER: As I said, I find it interesting that the Labor Party now takes a keen interest, when it has not done so since March of this year. However, as I have said, we must look at projects as they are presented. That is what we did in relation to Magellan Metals, and a decision was made.