Page 4032 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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Whilst we welcome this consultation, we are concerned that apart from the consultation with traditional owners, which is extremely important of course, there was little consultation with any other external stakeholders outside of the government’s own tent. Sadly, this seems to be common practice. The government’s preference for consulting predominantly with themselves demonstrates, yet again, they are not really interested in listening to broader views.
Whilst the Canberra Liberals generally support the provisions in this bill, following our own consultation with climate change advocates and stakeholders, I am proposing a number of amendments to provide greater oversight on ACT climate action, with a view to improving our performance in this space. I will address those when we get to the detail stage.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism) (11.42): Obviously, Ms Lee has foreshadowed amendments in the detail stage. I will indicate that the government will not be supporting those amendments.
On the substance of the bill—clearly the original bill in 2010 positioned the ACT as a world leader on climate action. Through legislating our ambitious net zero and interim emissions reduction targets, the territory has provided a clear signal to industry and the community of our intent to achieve a sustainable and equitable energy transition.
In the detail stage we can debate each of Ms Lee’s amendment. The government is happy to do so; but, to be clear, we will not be supporting them. I will go into the detail of that once we consider the in-principle stage.
I particularly want to acknowledge that this bill is important and timely to debate, given the very significant renewal of activity at a national level to achieve our goals as a nation. It is worth noting that the ACT’s contribution has continued to be nation leading as a result of this legislation that was opposed by the Canberra Liberals
in 2010.
I commend the bill to the Assembly and look forward to the further discussion in the detail stage.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.44), in reply: The Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010 has been fundamental to the territory’s action on climate change, providing clear legislation that facilitates successful policy development and analysis.
The four objects of the act are: to set greenhouse gas and renewable energy targets; to provide for monitoring of and reporting on progress made to meet these targets; to facilitate government’s development of policies and programs to meet these targets and to address and adapt to climate change; and to encourage private entities to take action to address climate change and recognise the entities that take action.
Under section 26 of the act, as the Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, I was required to conduct a review of the operation of the act as soon as practical after its tenth year of operation. As Ms Lee has noted, in 2021 the act was
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