Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for PARKS and ENVIRONMENT, Mr DUIGAN
My question is also about State Coastal Policy. It is a yes/no answer with a bit of detail if you want to provide it, minister. Did anyone apart from the Robbins Island wind farm proponent raise issues with you about the validity of decisions made under the State Coastal Policy before you decided to change it?
ANSWER
Mr President, I thank the member for her question. In terms of yes/no, no, including the Robbins Island proponent. I have had no such applications from any person as far as I am aware. The government became aware of the issue in March of this year.
Ms O’Connor – After the Robbins Island proponent contacted you –
Mr DUIGAN – I have answered that question in the yes-or-no context in which you asked it.
It is appropriate for the government to remove the substantial uncertainty that exists. I will put on the record that that position has been backed up by the University of Tasmania’s senior law lecturer, Rachel Baird, who has been recorded by the ABC in late July, saying the government’s legislation was:
… a pretty well-measured response to provide certainty to the Tasmanian economy.
Dr Baird’s comments also support what the government has been saying, that this is not:
… changing the assessment process by any means, with all projects still having to align with coastal policy objectives, principles, and outcomes.
So again, thanks for the question.
Ms O’Connor – I have a supplementary on the same issue – same question fundamentally.
Mr PRESIDENT – He did answer the question; it was a yes/no question. So, if you have another question, you can ask another question.
