ESTIMATES COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS – 17 JUNE 2010
year, and in terms of resources to undertake those new powers they have. It is an evolving authority.
In terms of the public they seem to want to have an independent watchdog, and I will do the best I can
to provide them with the powers and resources to be able to do that.
Mr CHANDLER: Thank you, minister. I refer to a letter from the Planning Action Network to
demonstrate my last question, and to environmental planning in general. The letter says:
The current revelations about pollutions spills at most, if not all our mineral loading facilities in
the NT, had been worrying. It is no compensation to say we told you so. When self regulation
has proven such a farce at the very least this shows a lack of forward planning and poor
management. Recent responses from the government have been like Gilbert and Sullivan,
funny if not so serious. We hear the NT government must be the regulator, but fail to regulate.
We hear the EPA cannot be the regulator because it needs to remain independent. Minister,
as you can see PLAN, a group made up of people who at least care enough about our
environment to actually take an interest, and they are confused. So how do you think the
average person understands the role of the NT’s current EPA?
Mr HAMPTON: I think it is more of a statement, member for Brennan. In terms of us being regulator
and incidences as we have seen in the port and the harbour in recent times, again, my role as the
minister has been to look at where we can improve the system. I am sure there are people out there
in the public who are critical about it; they are passionate about the environment, as I am. I think my
role as the minister is, when something is broken, come in and fix it.
I think in our announcements, as the government when these incidences began to occur in our ports,
was the right thing to do in undertaking a review of all ports across the Northern Territory; looking at a
new licensing regime right across those major activities such as ports and providing resources to my
agency to employ six new compliance officers, is the right thing to do. I think the actions of the
government has been very fast and appropriate; I have received a lot of positive feedback from
people about how government has responded to that in terms of providing extra resources, and we
have before parliament doubling of penalties for polluters.
My message is out there, it was a clear message to heavy industry to clean up their act. I want to
make sure there is a culture of compliance and disclosure within the heavy industries, and the general
population out there who have heard that message would certainly appreciate it.
Mr CHANDLER: Minister, I certainly appreciate the model the EPA operates here in the Northern
Territory; I appreciate how and what it is trying to achieve. It is more about a perception of what the
general public think an EPA delivers. I suppose that can only be given from the world of movies in
some cases to see EPA is around the world where investigators come in, flash their badges, and the
whole operation is punched in. Perhaps, we do have models interstate that is similar to that.
Mr HAMPTON: Yes, I agree. I have met with the Board on numerous occasions now. I might just ask
Jacinta Stanford to also provide some commentary from the EPA in terms of what they are doing, and
what the wider population say about EPA.
Ms STANFORD: Jacinta Stanford, Acting Executive Director of the EPA. I think it is a really
interesting point you have raised, member for Brennan, and it is something that the Board discussed
at their last meeting. I do not think I am breaching confidence of that meeting to say we are
attempting, this year, to get a broader understanding of what the EPA’s role is. We commenced with
our presence at the Sustainability Festival, and we will progress that with our presence on the rural
show circuit this year so people in the regions are also aware of what we are. The board also resolved
to make better use of media releases after board meetings so the public is informed about what
issues they are considering and discussing.
Mr CHANDLER: Thank you. Minister, I know I asked this question earlier in another output group.
That was in regard to environmental officers who go out and actually check to ensure things are done
correctly. We live in this world of self-regulation. What was answered earlier was that we do not have
people who go out and monitor samples or whatever, before/after. The average person expects that
ESTIMATES COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS – 17 JUNE 2010
we have an environmental watchdog in place.
I know that sits with NRETAS and that the EPA plays a different role. I suppose I am looking for
guidance here on how we can - because I am supportive of the EPA; you know I am supportive of the
EPA. Have I confused you now? How can we better explain the role of the EPA model we have here
in the Northern Territory when most people feel they are the environmental watchdogs? In fact, they
are monitoring processes, not the people who are going to walking around in the mud and checking
samples and so forth. Whether the government looks at some kind of advertising, some kind of public
relations exercise can better explain what the Northern Territory EPA is all about. That was not a
question; it is a statement.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: And the minister is entitled to respond to that statement if he wishes.
Mr HAMPTON: That is okay.
Mr CHANDLER: Minister, probably you need to demonstrate where some people may also get
confused. I read a letter today that was sent to the EPA, where they have chosen not to investigate an
alleged leak at the ConocoPhillips LNG plant. You and other ministers, including the Chief Minister,
bragged about the EPA being independent and has self-referral ability. What message does this send
to the average person if they will not investigate environmental allegations?
Mr HAMPTON: Well, member for Brennan, again, they have self-referral powers. As I said, they are
independent body under their own act. I might just get Jacinta to answer that.
Ms STANFORD: Member for Brennan, the initial decision in relation to that particular matter, the EPA
has resolved to use its resources effectively. So, we will wait for the government departments
responsible for those areas to respond. We will then ask them, as we can under our act, for copies of
the reports into those incidents. If the EPA then sees holes, or things that have not been addressed,
or public interest issues that have not been picked up on through the government’s actions, then we
would certainly be taking it on at that point.
To give people an impression that we would take it on and go in there and flash our badges would be
dishonest of us. We are the people who let the regulators do their job and, then, we come in
afterwards and make sure it has been done properly.
Mr CHANDLER: To go one step further, I actually read today the ConocoPhillips’ discharge licence.
What concerned me was that, if an allegation is raised that does not fit within the box of the licence
application - and this talks about discharges, waste water, monitoring samples that come out of stacks
- all of a sudden, we cannot look at it. if it is not the EPA’s responsibility, would it fall back to
NRETAS? Can the EPA provide that advice back to people that, in this instance, we think you should
refer your complaint to NRETAS? Is that a fair process that we could have or …
Mr HAMPTON: Yes, good question. I will get Mr Grant to answer IT.
Mr GRANT: I have not followed up on that one yet, but definitely it would be NRETAS or Department
of Resources would be responsible for that, and there will be a clear delineation. I think in this case, it
would be the Department of Resources, but I had better double check that. There is no situation
where no one will be responsible.
Mr CHANDLER: All right, thank you. Minister, you have openly said you see the EPA evolve over the
years – and you said again tonight that it is an evolving body. Where do you see the EPA 10 years
from now? More importantly, what do you see the role evolving into if it is on this road of evolution. In
a snapshot 10 years from now, where do you see the EPA?
Mr HAMPTON: Member for Brennan, again, that is a very broad statement. In 10 years from now ...
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