Mr BAYLEY question to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT, Ms OGILVIE
Over a year ago your government was handed the State of the Environment Report, which chronicled the decline of Tasmania’s environment over the past decade of Liberal government and provides 16 recommendations of the actions your government needs to take to address it.
Your government has largely ignored these, including the recommendation to review the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 as a matter of priority. On Tuesday, you were handed another damning report into the management of Tasmania’s landfills, which was unequivocal. Tasmania’s legislation is outdated and no longer fit for purpose in addressing the complexity of contemporary environmental management.
Tasmania’s environmental laws haven’t been updated in 20 years. They simply cannot address the cascade of threats that Tasmania’s environment is currently facing. When will your government undertake the much‑needed review of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994?
ANSWER
Well, there was a lot in that question. Thank you for the question on the environment. It’s great to see the Greens back on the environment, who’ve been missing in action somewhat in the last parliament.
We are doing a huge amount of work in this area. I’m aware of the reports to which you refer. Of course, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) sits under my purview as Minister for Environment, as does climate change. I was hoping that we would have a debate on climate change yesterday so I could get some of this on the record, but for whatever reason, you chose not to do that.
Mr Bayley – You filibustered.
Dr Woodruff – You filibustered it out. Speak to your minister. Speak to the Attorney-General.
The SPEAKER – Order. I do ask the minister to become more relevant to the question. You are inciting interjections. I ask everyone to allow the minister to respond. I draw the minister back to the question.
Ms OGILVIE – In relation to law reform, you will be aware that we have matters out for consultation at the moment. Looking forward to seeing the response to that. We’re committed as a government to working together around these complex issues. Of course, I’m looking at Mr Garland and mention the marine environment Tasmania act that we’ve made a commitment to working on as well.
In relation to the Auditor‑General’s reporting to do with the waste management systems and processes, that’s something that we have an eye to also.
The 2024 State of Environment Report was tabled in this place on 17 September 2024. The original report, which was prepared by the Tasmanian Planning Commission, and the responsible minister is actually the Minister for Housing and Planning. Nonetheless, given it touches on environmental matters, that sits with me. That builds on the significant work that we are already doing in these areas.
You have mentioned, I think – I just want to check the EP –
Mr Bayley – Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.
Ms OGILVIE – In relation to that, if you have specific comments that you’d like to make, always happy to hear them. Our legislative agenda is, I believe, well-known. Very happy to have dialogue across the Chamber on all of these issues.
In relation to matters to do with the environment, I would also like to say that I’m very aware that the Australian government has released its National Climate Risk Assessment along its first national adaptation plan. I just wanted to say for the Chamber that our climate change work, particularly through Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT), is sophisticated, it is ongoing, and it includes the important emissions reduction plans (ERPs). I was going to speak a bit to this yesterday, but we didn’t get to have that debate.
Happy to have more information from you if you think we need to be doing more, but I’m pretty content that our management and environment portfolio, particularly in relation to climate change and the work that we are doing in the marine environment is ongoing.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Mr BAYLEY – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Mr BAYLEY – Thank you for the answer, minister, but you didn’t actually answer the crux of this question. The planning commission in its State of the Environment Report said it was a priority to review the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. My question was, explicitly, when will your government undertake the much‑needed review of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994?
The SPEAKER – That question is in order.
Ms OGILVIE – Very happy to answer it. We have worked diligently through all of the recommendations, and they are recommendations. That work is ongoing. In relation to whether we will, or timing of that, that is something I could seek from the department for you, if you would like me to do that.
Mr BAYLEY – Are you taking that on notice?
Ms OGILVIE – Yes, happy to do that.
