Page 507 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 June 1989
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do much worse than to take very tough legislation, of the kind that has been proposed in New South Wales, and use that as our model. I hope that the Government will understand the need to work in with New South Wales, in particular, and will employ the opportunities presented by this model from New South Wales to build up our position on pollution, to ensure that those in New South Wales who are thinking of looking elsewhere to take their business certainly would not think of coming to the ACT because our position would be just as bad for them.
MR MOORE (3.38): This amendment to the Water Pollution Act of course is really a relatively minor one that just provides for a situation where officers of the ACT Administration can measure and check water pollution and carry out their duties more easily. As such, the amendment is particularly non-contentious, and of course the Residents Rally will support the amendment.
Let me say that what is a little more contentious of course is the amendment moved by Mr Humphries in asking us to endorse the New South Wales Liberal Government's anti-pollution legislation. The truth of the matter is that the Rally has no intention of endorsing that Liberal Party attempt and Mr Humphries' attempt to get us to credit the Liberal Party in New South Wales with being that way.
Mr Humphries: Why not? Is it because it is a Liberal government? Is that why?
MR MOORE: There is absolutely no requirement for us to give it that credit at this stage on something so minor as water - - -
Mr Humphries: Minor?
MR MOORE: As this particular amendment.
Mr Humphries: Do you think the legislation is minor?
MR MOORE: As this particular amendment. So under those circumstances we will be opposing that amendment. Let me point out, however, that we are particularly concerned with water pollution in general and I will take this little opportunity to make some comments on water pollution. The National Capital Development Commission ACT water policy plan which was released in January 1988 deals quite extensively with some of the problems that we have with water in the ACT - I will run through some of those - and it also presents some possible solutions.
When the Minister spoke earlier today in question time, she suggested that this amendment Bill would in due time assist in solving the problems at Captains Flat. Of course, what we are doing is talking about measuring the water. I suppose in one sense it will give us some assistance in knowing what the problems are but hardly any assistance in actually solving them.
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