Woomera Prohibited Area

In reply to Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (1 August 2017). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Health Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs): I am advised the coexistence model detailed in the 2014 Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) legislation is managed through the WPA Advisory Board, which includes senior executives from Department of Defence, Department of Industry, Air Force and from South Australian Government departments including the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) and Defence SA. Working level contact for operational issues is managed through direct liaison between Defence SA, DPC, Woomera Test Range and the WPA Coordination Office (WPACO— Department of Defence).

The WPA Advisory Board held their last meeting on 20 September 2016 at Defence SA. Since the meeting Defence SA staff have met with South Australian government representatives in South Australia and Canberra and are working to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding between the South Australian government and Department of Defence. A new WPA Advisory Board has been appointed and will meet before the end of 2017.