(1)   In respect of the Bald Hills windfarm project, which was vetoed by the Minister in April, did the Minister’s Department originally recommend that the project proceed.

(2)   Did the Woolnorth and Musselroe Bay windfarms in Tasmania, and the Portland windfarm in Victoria, pose a greater risk to the Orange Bellied Parrot than the Bald Hills windfarm; if so, why were those projects approved.

(1)   This was one of the Department’s conclusions, however the Department also advised me that the independent Biosis Research Pty Ltd report, Wind farm collision risk for birds - Cumulative risk for threatened and migratory species, had concluded that the Orange-bellied Parrot has a high probability of becoming extinct within the next 50 years and while the impacts of wind farms on the species is low, almost any negative impact on the species could top the balance against its continued existence. The Department also advised me that there is Orange-bellied Parrot foraging habitat within 35 kilometres both east and west of the wind farm site. As Minister, it is my responsibility to consider input and advice from a range of sources. In relation to the Bald Hills windfarm project, I took account of all the relevant factors as set out in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act).

(2)   The Woolnorth and Portland Wind Energy Installations were early approvals under the EPBC Act and both were based on the best information available at the time. The Biosis report was completed in February 2006 and contained new and relevant information that I was required to take into account when considering the Bald Hills Wind Energy Installation proposal. The Musselroe Wind Energy Installation was approved in 2005 and is not located within the known distributional range of the Orange-bellied Parrot.