Legislative Council
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Primary Industries, Natural Resources and Regional Development, a question about industry non-compliance with well drilling application procedures.
Leave granted. The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: The 1997-98 annual report of Primary Industries and Resources SA details a pattern of non-compliance with well drilling application procedures by a single operator. The report states: For the first quarter of 1997-98, 43 per cent of wells drilled began drilling prior to obtaining approval. This was regarded as unacceptable, and action was taken with the offending operator. Apparently, as a result of that action, the level of non-compliance dropped to less than 5 per cent in the subsequent quarters. Yet by the last quarter the rate of non-compliance had risen to 38 per cent. Action is supposedly again being taken. The report also notes that non-compliance levels for failure to give PIRSA six weeks' notice of drilling averaged an astonishing 94 per cent. Equally amazing is the fact that PIRSA's response to this form of non-compliance is to fast track the application. My questions to the Minister are: 1. What is the name of the offending operator? 2. How many times did the offending operator breach notification requirements? 3. What action was taken against the offending operator for the 43 per cent non-compliance rate? 5. What action has been taken against the operator following the 38 per cent non-compliance rate during the last quarter? 6. Why does PIRSA fast track applications that fail to provide the required six weeks' notice rather than prosecute?The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN: I will refer the honourable member's questions to my colleague in another place and bring back a reply.
Read the Government's reply: 25 May 1999