Legislative Assembly
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Legislative Assembly Tuesday, 28 November 2006 THE SPEAKER (Mr F. Riebeling) took the chair at 2.00 pm, and read prayers. DAMPIER ARCHIPELAGO - NATIONAL HERITAGE LISTING Statement by Premier MR A.J. CARPENTER (Willagee - Premier) [2.02 pm]: Today I have written to Senator Ian Campbell, federal Minister for Environment and Heritage, outlining the state government’s position on the federal government’s proposed national heritage listing of the Dampier Archipelago. While initially opposing national heritage listing, as a result of commonwealth action to address our concerns, together with discussions to progress management plans and an approvals bilateral agreement, we now believe that it may be possible to progress a listing that protects the significant heritage values of the Dampier Archipelago without jeopardising industry. The state government has long acknowledged the significant heritage values of the Dampier Archipelago. These have been recognised in the various planning strategies prepared by the state over the past decade. In January 2002 the state signed the landmark Burrup and Maitland Industrial Estates Agreement with the area’s three Aboriginal native title claimant groups. That agreement provides a range of benefits for the Aboriginal people of that area. Indeed, approximately 55 per cent of the Burrup Peninsula is to be vested in the Aboriginal people. We strongly believe that it is possible for industry and heritage to coexist in the Dampier Archipelago. While protecting heritage, we need to ensure that the management of heritage does not constrain current projects and the capacity of industry to expand within agreed boundaries, or impact on transport corridors for the facilitation of these industries. We are committed to effective management of the heritage values of the Dampier Archipelago and to identifying the most appropriate management regime by engaging with the commonwealth, and other stakeholders. This will include an agreed management plan. Details of an environment and heritage management strategy were provided in the Western Australian government’s submission of March 2006 to the Australian Heritage Council, and this strategy is progressing. Key initiatives of this environment and heritage management strategy are the establishment of the Dampier Archipelago Council and overarching management plan; a Dampier Archipelago cultural heritage management plan; heritage surveys over six Burrup agreement industrial areas; archaeological surveys over non-industrial land; a management plan for the Burrup non- industrial area; and a Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation rock art monitoring study. We believe that the industries that are operating in the Dampier Archipelago must play an important role in the management of the heritage values. It is important that both the state and the commonwealth engage with those industries effectively to ensure that they have an opportunity to play their part. Given the economic importance of industry in the Dampier Archipelago to Western Australia and Australia, combined with its significant heritage values, it is critical that the development of an approvals bilateral agreement and a workable management plan be considered very carefully. We have been encouraged by public statements by the commonwealth indicating a preparedness to take whatever time is necessary to develop a management regime that will ensure that industry and heritage value coexist prior to a decision on any listing. We support this approach and request that the commonwealth commit to continued discussion with the state. We look forward to working cooperatively with the commonwealth, industry, heritage interests and the indigenous people of the area to achieve an outcome that is satisfactory to all. CLIMATE CHANGE STATEMENT Statement by Minister for the Environment MR M. McGOWAN (Rockingham - Minister for the Environment) [2.05 pm]: There can no longer be any debate in Western Australia about the reality of climate change. We have just experienced our driest winter on record. In recent years we have experienced many extreme weather events, such as floods, major storms and cyclones. Over the past 30 years there has been a 10 to 20 per cent reduction in average annual rainfall in the south west of our state, and a 40 to 50 per cent reduction in the water run-off into our dams. Climate change is an issue that the government, and, indeed, the Western Australian community, take very seriously. That is why the Premier has commissioned a major climate change statement for early 2007 to lay out a plan of action for the years ahead. Curbing our greenhouse gas emissions is a complex task in a state with a growing and energy- intensive economy. However, we also have several strategic advantages, including solar, wind, wave and geothermal power opportunities, and vast capacity for carbon sinks. We are also geologically well suited to greenhouse gas sequestration, and we have gas reserves that we are using for our own economy and to export clean energy to the rest of the world. 8840 [ASSEMBLY - Tuesday, 28 November 2006] There is much of which we can be proud in our battle against climate change. In 2001 we inherited an electricity system with just one per cent renewable energy. Today it is over five per cent and growing, in part as a result of our electricity reforms to open the market to renewable energy suppliers. In 2004 the government released a greenhouse strategy to coordinate government action on climate change. A range of energy efficiency schemes have been introduced, including a rebate scheme to encourage householders to take up the use of solar energy for water heating, and a program to install solar panels on 100 state government schools through the solar schools program. We also have invested in an international trial of hydrogen fuel-cell buses, made a massive investment in an electric rail system to take more than 22 000 cars off the road, and made our government car fleet carbon neutral. Perhaps the most significant contribution we have made to reducing greenhouse emissions is that we have significantly reduced land clearing in Western Australia through implementing strict native vegetation clearing controls under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. It is these sorts of practical actions taken by states that have allowed the Howard government to claim that Australia will meet the target it negotiated under the Kyoto Protocol. In 2005 the then Minister for State Development, now the Premier, and the then Minister for the Environment commissioned a Greenhouse and Energy Taskforce to recommend to government further mitigation measures for the stationary energy sector. The report, which will include advice on targets, offset mechanisms and carbon trading, will be delivered to government late next month. In 2007 the government will deliver a climate change statement that will, in part, respond to this report, but also take a wider view of the steps we should all take to reduce our impact on our environment. ENERGY SMART GOVERNMENT PROGRAM Statement by Minister for Energy MR F.M. LOGAN (Cockburn - Minister for Energy) [2.08 pm]: I seek leave to table the results of the state government’s Energy Smart Government program for 2005-06. [See paper 2236.] Mr F.M. LOGAN: Energy consumed by state government agencies accounts for a substantial portion of the state government’s operating costs. It also plays a significant role in the impact these agencies have on the environment through the emission of greenhouse gases. The Energy Smart Government program requires government agencies to reduce their energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions. It also provides a policy framework for agencies to incorporate energy management as a standard part of their operations. I am pleased to report that since the introduction of the program in 2002, the combined effort of agencies has resulted in energy cost savings of more than $10.9 million and the avoidance of nearly 40 000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This has been done despite the dramatic growth that has occurred in Western Australia since 2002, which has increased the demand for more infrastructure and services, including health, police and education. However, in spite of this extra demand, energy used by government agencies has defied the trend and been reduced by almost three per cent. The program’s initial target for energy reduction was 10 per cent by 2005-06. However, the unprecedented growth in the state has meant that this target was virtually impossible. Yet 27 of the 63 participating agencies were able to achieve this target. The overall results were strongly influenced by the larger agencies. The largest five agencies represented 77 per cent of total government energy consumption and they did not meet the target this year, although some achieved a significant energy reduction. The most pleasing aspect of the report is that three-quarters of participating agencies reduced their energy consumption in 2005-06. This represents a reduction of 13 per cent per government employee and reflects the dedication of many agencies to ongoing energy management. Fourteen agencies recorded impressive energy consumption savings of more than 20 per cent. I congratulate all agencies that have contributed to the positive outcomes to date and encourage all agencies to continue to manage their energy use and renew their efforts to keep this important initiative as a high priority. I look forward to reporting further achievements about the Energy Smart Government program in the coming years. JUNE WILLIAMS - CONDOLENCE Statement by Attorney General MR J.A. McGINTY (Fremantle - Attorney General) [2.10 pm]: I regret to inform the House that June Williams, a former Commissioner for Equal Opportunity, passed away on the morning of Friday, 24 November, after a long period of ill health. June Williams took up the position as the first Commissioner for Equal Opportunity for Western Australia in 1985. She had previously worked for the New South Wales Anti- Discrimination Board and had strong experience with the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Act, which is similar to the Western Australian act.