I write to clarify the record with regards to my employment history in Tasmania and my current role as Convener of the George River Water Quality Panel.
I was the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Land Management from 1989 to 1999.
That followed a seven year appointment as Secretary of the Law Department. In 1999 I was appointed Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services until I resigned that position in October 2005.
There also appears to be some confusion about the role and independence of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Established by law as an independent body, the EPA first commenced operations on 1 July 2008 and I have been the Chairman of the Board of the EPA since inception.
While it is true to say I am the Chairman of the EPA, my role with the George River Water Quality Panel is one of Convener, in that it was my role to bring together an appropriately qualified group of
scientists to assess the information regarding water quality in the Georges River, as broadcast on ABC Australian Story during February this year.
I would also like to make it clear it will be the panel’s report that will be forwarded to the State Government once complete.
As Convener, my role is facilitate the process and to allow the highly qualified independent panel to provide its advice on the issues.
Earlier on Tasmanian Times:
