Page 603 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 30 March 2021
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yesterday, I understand. I do not have an exact figure for how many swabs were taken yesterday, but it is in that order. So we have ramped up significantly. Again, we are thanking Canberrans for their patience as we get through this peak in demand.
Environment—emissions reduction targets
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction. The Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act requires the government to review the act after 10 years, which was October last year. When asked why your government failed to review the act, during estimates, you said, “We need to get on to it.” You also said that the government may not meet its 2025 emissions reduction target. In response to subsequent questions on notice, you advised that the government is carefully considering a number of options for the delivery of the review. Minister, why has the government been so tardy—seven months late—in this important review?
MR RATTENBURY: The requirement of the act is that the review is to be completed after 10 years. It is now after 10 years, so we now have to do that. The government is currently putting together terms of reference, consulting with a range of stakeholders to look at what is the most effective form to do that review in, because the legislation does not prescribe it specifically. So the government is having a think about that.
I also will pick up the paraphrasing that Mrs Kikkert has done of my answer in estimates about the 2025 target. I said that the 2025 target is very challenging. The government have not conceded yet that we cannot meet the 2025 target. I was being upfront with the community about the fact that it is very challenging and we are going to have to work very hard to get there. But I am not conceding that we cannot make it. We will continue to strive to meet that target. I do not appreciate the paraphrasing in the question.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, how will your government meet its 2025 emissions reductions targets?
MR RATTENBURY: I am glad Mrs Kikkert asked that question. The government has a climate strategy that has been set in place from now until 2025. It seeks to address the key sources of emissions in the ACT, which are transport, which makes up more than 60 per cent of our emissions, and natural gas use, which makes up more than 20 per cent of our emissions. These are the areas in which we need to cut emissions. There are a series of measures set out in both the climate strategy which was released in September 2019 and further measures that were put in place as election commitments that have now been committed to in the parliamentary and governing agreement.
I note that my colleagues across the chamber, every time we have talked about needing to reduce emissions from gas use, have set about to make comments like, “The government is going to come around and rip out your gas heater.” Those sorts of things are very unhelpful. They are very unhelpful when we are trying to take our community on a journey of understanding that, whilst for a long time gas has been
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