Dr WOODRUFF – Thank you, chair. Through you minister, a question to the director of the EPA. I want to ask a question about the total permissible dissolved nitrogen output in Storm Bay. First, what is the current rolling 12‑month average for each salmon company in Storm Bay? Have any companies utilised more than 80 per cent of their stage 1 apportionment over the previous two years? Do you have any indication, or have you had any indication, that any companies will be applying for their stage 2 apportionment in the coming 12 months?
Ms MURDOCH – Okay, four questions there, in regards to that –
Dr WOODRUFF – Three.
CHAIR – Before you answer, I remind members that the rule is one question. If you continually ask questions with two or three more mixed into it, it’s going to take a very long time to get through everything and it causes confusion. Please, stick to clear questions because I will be counting them.
Dr Woodruff, there were three questions in that one, and you’re not alone.
Dr WOODRUFF – No, I’m just following the lead, I’m so sorry.
CHAIR – No, I am pointing it out to all members, because there’s been quite a bit of it going on. It’s going to be a long time to get all the answers within the three‑minute mark. Again, I will be directed by you if you want me to –
Dr WOODRUFF – It is a pack, and I’m very happy to take them on notice.
Ms MURDOCH – Really?
Dr WOODRUFF – Yes.
Ms MURDOCH – I have a lot of information here that I can read through.
Dr WOODRUFF – I am happy to take them on notice.
Ms OGILVIE – Could I, as the minister –
Dr WOODRUFF – Well, I’m directing it to the Director of the EPA.
Ms OGILVIE – Yes, but questions on notice, if I may.
CHAIR – Yes, minister, you have the call.
Ms OGILVIE – On this question – I’m also really happy to have very much a free flow around the table. I think it’s working well. In particular, having the EPA here able to answer questions is great. Catherine, if you were able to have a go at answering, if you feel you can, the particular questions, then make a determination on whether we need to take things on notice. I think people are watching, if we’re able to –
Dr WOODRUFF – Thank you, straight to the director now, given the time.
Ms MURDOCH – In regard to the question, in regards to rolling average?
Dr WOODRUFF – Yes, thanks.
Ms MURDOCH – That’s the first one. I’m sorry, I’m struggling to find an exact figure of that. Can you just speak to that for me, please? The second question, sorry to clarify, minister.
Dr WOODRUFF – Have any companies used more than 80 per cent of their stage 1 portion over the previous two years? Have you had any indication that they will be applying for a stage 2 apportionment in the coming 12 months?
Ms MURDOCH – In regard to the second question – no companies have used over their – I will let Mr Cook answer, so I do not give you the wrong answer, because I can’t put my hands on it across my briefs.
Dr WOODRUFF – Thanks, director. Through you, minister, to Mr Cook.
Mr COOK – The way the determination is set up is that a company has a stage 1 allocation and they have to demonstrate that they’re using at least 80 per cent of that during a two-year period, over several consecutive months. Once they reach that point, they can then apply to go to their stage 2 determination. We have very recently, very hot off the press, received an application by one of the companies which has been operating above that 80 per cent level to access their stage 2 determination.
Dr WOODRUFF – Okay, which company?
Mr COOK – That’s Huon Aquaculture.
CHAIR – That’s another question. Dr Woodruff, please.
Dr WOODRUFF – Is there any intention to trade nitrogen between companies if they have not reached the prescribed cap for release?
CHAIR – Order, please. Dr Woodruff, as I said before, you asked four questions in the one and it’s very, very hard within the time limits allowed, even with me being as lenient as I am, to get all the answers, if you keep asking more questions – which as you know in the rotation, you’re only allowed two.
Ms OGILVIE – The other people get grumpy.
CHAIR – I have been lenient.
Dr WOODRUFF – I hear what you’re saying, Chair. Can I just say, I heard Ms Finlay ask many questions and points of clarification, and extra backwards and forwards. I really just asked one set of questions around one topic, and that was one clarifying point.
CHAIR – Dr Woodruff, I said you weren’t alone when I addressed the committee before in regard to multiple questions in the one. All the members are taking it on board. So please, moving forward, to keep things progressing nicely as we are, just one question at a time, please.
Dr WOODRUFF – Okay. Could I ask my second question now, which is –
CHAIR – No, you’ll have to wait until the next rotation because you’ve had four in the one question. I have to be fair. Next rotation you can ask another question.
Dr WOODRUFF – I’m just slightly in shock at that. Norway is the largest producer in the world, 95 per cent or so of all salmon produced, and it’s only used about half of what Tasmania’s used in antibiotics in the last – that is staggering.
My question through you, minister, is to the director of the EPA around the Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output (TPDNO). Is there any intention to trade nitrogen between companies, or is that currently happening, if they should not reach the prescribed TPDNO cap for a lease or are not using it in their allocation? Is there any intention to trade between companies?
Ms MURDOCH – The information I have in front of me is the Stage 1 determinations for each of the companies. I am not aware of any request to trade between the companies. I’m not aware of that.
Dr WOODRUFF – No one in the EPA is aware of that. It sounds like someone is aware of that because Dr Cook has got something to say.
Ms MURDOCH – I’m trying to read through, so I don’t have to keep bringing people to the table, to make sure I’ve got appropriate information.
Dr WOODRUFF – Is there anyone in the EPA aware of the trading?
Ms OGILVIE – If we could just let Catherine consult.
Ms MURDOCH – I am correct. There is no intention at this point, that the EPA knows about, to trade TPDNO in that area.
Dr WOODRUFF – Through you, minister, can you confirm, director, that the TPDNO caps have not been determined on the acceptable environmental impacts of the output, but are based on the 40,000 tonnes of production per annum figure that was announced by the Liberal government for Storm Bay in 2016? So, it’s not been based on an assessment of the environmental impacts and what the environment can handle, but has been based on the conversation between the Liberal government in 2016 and the companies on the 40,000 tonnes and working backwards from there.
Ms MURDOCH – The EPA is an independent scientific organisation. Everything we produce has rigorous science behind it. Any decisions we make will be completely done in regard to that environmental evidence in front of us.
Dr WOODRUFF – That’s not the question. I’m trying to understand, through you, minister, how the TPDNO caps –
CHAIR – Dr Woodruff, please.
Ms OGILVIE – Through me, I think you’ve had the answer.
Dr WOODRUFF – No, I think the director misunderstood my question.
CHAIR – Dr Woodruff, just one moment. Through you, minister, is there anything else to add?
Ms MURDOCH – Through you, minister, all of the decisions that we make at the EPA are completely based on science.
