Shadow Minister for Water Peter Rundle MLA says a damning Auditor General’s report has exposed serious failures within the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), raising concerns about the Cook Labor Government’s management of contaminated water sites across Western Australia.
The report, released earlier this week, found more than 1,200 potentially contaminated sites have been awaiting additional assessment information for more than five years with limited follow-up, while 771 sites were assigned to staff who no longer worked at the Department, including 110 high priority sites requiring further assessment.
Mr Rundle said the findings revealed a breakdown in basic governance, oversight and case management within an agency responsible for protecting public and environmental health.
“The Auditor General’s report raises serious questions about the Cook Labor Government’s ability to manage one of its most important environmental responsibilities.
“When hundreds of contaminated sites are assigned to staff who no longer work at the Department and more than 1,200 cases have been awaiting information for over five years, it is clear the system is not working as it should.”
Mr Rundle said the scale of the ever growing backlog was particularly concerning given contaminated sites can pose risks to public health and the environment, with new reports of potential contamination continuing to outpace the number of sites being reassessed or reclassified unacceptable.
“DWER is entrusted with protecting Western Australians from contamination risks that could affect where they live, work and recreate. People deserve confidence that assessments are being carried out promptly and thoroughly. Instead, this report paints a picture of a department struggling to keep track of its caseload.
“Basic follow-up, record-keeping, oversight and accountability are fundamental responsibilities of any regulator.
“I am calling on the Minister for Water to urgently outline what action will be taken to clear the backlog, strengthen oversight and ensure high-priority cases receive immediate attention.
“The Cook Government must explain how it intends to provide assurances that Western Australians are not being exposed to unnecessary risks because of administrative failures within DWER.”