House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Nyrstar NYRSTAR Mr MARSHALL House of Assembly Norwood NYRSTAR Mr MARSHALL (Norwood) (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Can the minister confirm whether or not he has been informed by the EPA, at any stage in the last 18 months, about a mid-term review of Nyrstar's conditions of licence and, if so, what was the outcome of that review? The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly Colton Minister for Sustainability Minister for Water and the River Murray Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation NYRSTAR The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:47): As I said yesterday, the EPA regularly provides me with information with regard to, amongst other things, its compliance enforcement activities but, as I have also previously mentioned, the EPA is independent of government— Members interjecting: The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly The Hon. P. CAICA: —just let me make that point— The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly The Hon. P. CAICA: —independent of the minister of the day and the government of the day. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly The Hon. P. CAICA: What I have been advised by the EPA is that, following an extensive review of Nyrstar's EPA licence, the EPA has now finalised new conditions of its licence. This includes an environment improvement program and establishes more stringent lead in air limits in Port Pirie. The EPA expects to issue the new licence conditions in the next few weeks. I am also advised, as we would expect, that the new environment improvement program will require Nyrstar to implement improvements to its facilities to reduce lead emissions. It also requires assessment of new technologies and processes to achieve further substantial long-term reductions in lead emissions. I guess the point is this: I regularly receive, as you would expect, updates from the EPA on a variety of matters. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order!