Page 3005 - Week 10 - Friday, 8 October 2021
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MR PARTON: Minister, does the social cost of carbon apply to activities under the infrastructure investment program, and, if not, why not?
MR RATTENBURY: I am not quite sure where Mr Parton is going with the question, Madam Speaker, but I will do my best to answer it. The social cost of carbon applies to the emissions of ACT government agencies. I think that is the clearest answer I can give. I am happy to arrange a briefing for Mr Parton and any of his colleagues with my agency but also with the ACT Climate Change Council. They have actually recommended to the ACT government that we adopt this approach. It is an internationally recognised mechanism for being very transparent and very clear in how one measures one’s impact and also in how you might incentivise efforts to reduce emissions. Hopefully that has answered Mr Parton’s question. As I say, I am happy to organise a follow-up if that is of use to him and his colleagues.
MR HANSON: A supplementary, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: You might need to take this on notice as well, Minister. Does the social cost of carbon apply to the production of materials and supplies used in the ACT government’s infrastructure investment program?
MR RATTENBURY: I did not take the previous question on notice. I was very clear in my answer that it applies to the measured scope 1 and scope 2 emissions of ACT government agencies. On reflection, particularly now having heard Mr Hanson’s question, I think those opposite are trying to get at scope 3 emissions. There is no recognised measure of scope 3 emissions under any carbon accounting frameworks, either internationally or locally, at this point in time. The actual answer to both Mr Parton’s and Mr Hanson’s questions, if I have understood them, would be no.
Business—COVID-19
MR MILLIGAN: My question is for the Chief Minister. At last Thursday’s select committee the Canberra Business Chamber said they felt there was a disconnect between support for stood-down workers as opposed to businesses and that businesses were seen as some amorphous being which is not about people. They said owners were not only eating into their savings but borrowing against their homes, putting their homes and families at future risk. Do you understand the dire straits many small businesses are in?
MR BARR: Yes.
MR MILLIGAN: Chief Minister, are you concerned that businesses are borrowing against their mortgages just to keep going so that they can continue to pay the commercial rates that you are charging them?
MR BARR: I do not believe commercial rates are the principal issue. As to what particular businesses might be borrowing against, that will obviously depend on the
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