Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 28 April 2011:

With reference to the current and future bauxite mining projects of Alcoa in the Keysbrook area of the Darling Range in Western Australia: as a decision making authority under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, how has the Minister ensured that Alcoa are meeting the requirements of the Act with regard to the protection of black cockatoos and their habitat, which are listed as threatened under the Act.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The Department has been corresponding with Alcoa in respect of its current and future operations in the Darling Range, and met with the company in February 2011. The mining operations commenced in the 1960s prior to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The area being mined is subject to a Regional Forestry Agreement. If the EPBC Act applies to any aspects of Alcoa's activities, the department will take appropriate action for the protection of matters of national environmental significance.