WA Labor MP continues attack on his own government’s enviro reforms

WA Labor’s former environment spokesman has expanded his attack on his own party’s environmental reforms by labelling what he called a lack of consultation with green groups for a key review that informed the law changes as “disgraceful” – a statement vehemently denied by those criticised including former EPA chair Paul Vogel.

Vogel, an author of that review, rejected criticism that environmental groups had not been consulted, stating he had emailed the state’s peak conservation body the Conservation Council of WA but did not receive a response.

Gosnells MP Chris Tallentire. Credit: Chris Tallentire/Facebook

During debate on the Environmental Protection Amendment Bill on Wednesday – a bill intended to streamline environmental approvals – Gosnells MP Chris Tallentire attacked key aspects of his own government’s efforts and took aim at Seven West Media’s reporting of environmental issues via The West Australian, and its new digital publication The Nightly.

In an interview with WAtoday on Thursday Tallentire, first elected in 2008 but retiring at the next election, expanded on those criticisms by launching a blistering attack on the Vogel-McFerran Environmental Protection Authority review handed to the government last December.

Recommendations from the snap review, conducted by Vogel and planning expert David McFerran, formed the basis of the controversial sweeping reforms currently before parliament.

Vogel has defended the review and rejected Tallentire’s criticism.

Only the recommendations were made public in December, not the review itself. At the time environmental groups like Conservation Council WA and Greenpeace fumed at the recommendations, which they saw as pro-industry and complained they had not been consulted.

Tallentire, who was employed by the CCWA before being elected to parliament, labelled the failure to get input from any conservation groups in WA during the review as “a dereliction of duty”.

“I know both Paul Vogel and David McFerrin, and I have respect for them, but the way they did this review was a disgrace because they failed to consult with the community conservation sector,” he said.

He said by not consulting conservation groups the report made a grave error by recommending the government remove the community’s right to appeal an EPA decision not to assess a project.

The government accepted this recommendation which became a key feature of the reforms, but Tallentire said there was no evidence the appeal mechanism was being abused under current laws.

“I did contact the Conservation Council of WA by email but received no response. Other stakeholders responded promptly to a request to be consulted,” Vogel said.

“We were on an extremely tight deadline and I absolutely reject it was a ‘dereliction of duty’ not to continually follow up with the CCWA.

“It was made very clear to the CCWA that this was a review of the environmental assessment and approvals process commissioned by the WA government.

“How they juggle priorities is their business.”

When asked what other conservation groups were consulted Vogel said he had discussed the review with a senior member of the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

The Conservation Council of WA was undergoing a turbulent period of leadership change while the Vogel-McFerran review was taking place.

A spokesman for Environment Minister Reece Whitby also defended the review and reforms.

“These reforms in no way weaken WA’s environmental protection standards,” he said.

“Dr Paul Vogel and David McFerran met with a range of stakeholders while conducting their review of the state’s approvals systems, and their recommendations reflect a wide range of views canvassed during that process.

“Not every stakeholder will get exactly what they want from these reforms.”

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA said the reforms were necessary to streamline the state’s approvals processes and stem blowouts in timeframes and cost for major projects.

“The WA Government rightly acknowledged that the system wasn’t working. Tying industry in green tape doesn’t automatically mean better environmental outcomes,” CCI chief economist Aaron Morey said.

Despite his criticisms of his government’s own reforms Tallentire voted with his Labor colleagues to pass the bill.

He defended that decision saying there was no point dealing himself out of the debate at this stage.

“I want to be able to stay in the fold and argue the case and credit to my colleagues, they knew that I was going to be presenting a different position on things,” he said.

“It was something that they might not agree with me on or, dare I say it not fully understand, and so they were prepared to let me speak in the chamber on this…they couldn’t stop me either.”

McFerran was contacted for comment.

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