Australia: Three Delegates Appointed for Browse LNG Assessment

Three Delegates Appointed for Browse LNG Assessment

Environment Minister of Western Australia Albert Jacob has announced the appointment of three delegates to assess the proposed Browse Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) precinct.

Jacob said he approved the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) formally delegating its powers to assess the proposal under the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The appointments follow an August 2013 Supreme Court finding that invalidated the EPA’s original assessment report and recommendations.

The three appointed delegates are Gerard Early PSM, Dr Tom Hatton and newly appointed EPA member Glen McLeod,” the Minister said.

These three delegates had no involvement in the previous Browse assessment and recommendations to Government. I am confident the delegates will provide a well-considered and impartial report on the proposal.

Canberra-based Early was deputy secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Environment, before he retired to run his own consultancy in 2010.

Hatton is group executive of energy at the CSIRO. He has more than 25 years of national and international research experience and chairs the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority.

McLeod is a lawyer with 36 years of national and international experience in environmental, planning and government law; the climate change and renewable energy sectors; ports, probity and procurement. He is a member of the Waste Authority and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority and was appointed to the EPA in October 2013.

Press Release, February 5, 2014