Mining Impacts Inquiry Draft Report
Ms Cate Faehrmann: I take note of the answer to my question to the Minister for Natural Resources about consultation regarding the report of the inquiry into the impact of gold, silver, lead and zinc mining on human health and the environment.
The Minister noted that she had not had any discussions with the executive director of the Resources Regulator regarding the fact that he had seen a draft recommendation of that report, as well as a final recommendation. I put on the record that Resources Regulator executive director Mr Peter Day could not recall where the recommendation came from. It was provided to him at his office in Newcastle. He said he saw a draft recommendation, there were some minor changes to it and then he saw the final recommendation. I asked him whether it had come from the Minister's office or from another office. He said he had no idea where it came from. He said he had no idea who changed it from a draft recommendation to a final recommendation.
When I asked Georgina Beattie, who is the secretary of the resources department, she said she was aware that Mr Day had seen some draft recommendations—plural—"but the draft report was not circulated within the department at all, to my knowledge". It is incredibly concerning that the public service, in looking at and assessing policy, has seen this draft inquiry report that was to be voted on by an upper House committee, but apparently the Minister has not. The entire chapter on rehabilitation was recommended to be deleted from the draft report on the motion of Government member the Hon. Greg Donnelly. I think about the Resources Regulator seeing that chapter. I have had conversations with the Minister about how she wishes to improve the regulatory environment around mine rehabilitation. Apparently members of the Government did not consult with her about that, but the Resources Regulator was consulted. It is also worth noting that Government members moved to have the draft report for 14 days. That is unprecedented; they usually have it for seven. Why did they need it for 14 days? I would say it is because they had to consult with their mates in the department and in the industry. Who knows? The Minister needs to get to the bottom of it.
Ms Cate Faehrmann: My question is directed to the Minister for Natural Resources. During budget estimates last week, the Minister told me that she had no involvement in the contribution by Government members to the draft report of Portfolio Committee No. 2 - Health on its inquiry into the current and potential impacts of gold, silver, lead and zinc mining on human health, land, air and water quality in New South Wales. However, during that same budget estimates hearing, the executive director of the Resources Regulator told me that he had seen a draft recommendation and then an edited final recommendation for the report. What is the Minister's response to the fact that at least one senior official in her department provided input into at least one recommendation to this draft report but neither she nor her office was consulted?
Ms Cate Faehrmann: My supplementary question for written answer is directed to the Minister for Natural Resources. Would the Minister outline the steps she has taken to determine who in her department saw the draft report of the inquiry into the impact of gold, silver, lead and zinc mining on human health and the environment, or any of its draft recommendations, findings or any other content and who they received it from?