RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Hon. M. PARNELL (14:41): I have a further supplementary question arising from the answer. Does the minister support the current regime whereby the EPA has veto powers over new industry being established close to housing, but has no power over new housing being built close to industry, and what will the minister do about this anomaly?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (14:41): I am not sure there is an anomaly. The EPA provides advice to government. It has an act of parliament under which it operates; it is set by this parliament. I am not the minister responsible for the EPA. If the honourable member has any questions he should direct them to the appropriate minister, but the EPA operates under an act set by this parliament. If the honourable member wants to change it, he can put a bill through and it will be considered appropriately.

The EPA provides advice to government, along with a whole lot of other advice. In various cases, there are often issues at the margin. Some issues are very clear-cut but, in relation to planning and development decisions, many issues are in the grey area. They are not always black or white; some of them are grey, and in the end, trade-offs have to be made.