Page 903 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 25 July 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
I am sure that this Act will be welcomed by reputable professionals in the pest control area, many of whom have made representation for such controls to be introduced. I think this will be welcomed by those professionals and by the members of the ACT community. In particular it will be welcomed by those members of the community who are sensitive about environmental issues, as we all should be. Mr Speaker, I urge the passage of the Bill without amendments.
MR MOORE (9.06): It was great to hear Mr Berry's more voluminous speech after he got fired up. The environmental issues coming with this Pesticides Bill are, of course, particularly important to the Rally and they should be important to each member of this Assembly. To have chemicals of the type discussed earlier used freely within the ACT can only, in the long term and the short term, damage our environment.
It is very important that we have the ability to control the pesticides and the types of chemicals being used to control pests. It is equally important that, when these pests need control, we have access to those pesticides and chemicals for emergency situations or for research. This Pesticides Bill provides for those particular situations.
I notice that each member who has spoken on the Bill tonight has an hirsute face. I presume the reason for that is that they have probably had trouble with pests under these sorts of circumstances. It is an offence under this Bill to store, supply, dispose of, or use any of the particular substances put on the register except with a permit. It is that permit we may have some concern with and we will be very interested to see how that permit situation works.
It is for that reason that we have become concerned with the reporting of the registrar. I draw attention to the amendment that I have proposed to the Bill and foreshadow that amendment so that there is a requirement to report annually and so that the report can be monitored by this Assembly. It is perfectly satisfactory for that report - which I have suggested should go to the Minister - to be part of another report going to the Assembly from the same department. Nevertheless, it is important that there be a requirement that the registrar report to this Assembly about the amount of pesticides being used in the ACT.
We will have a very good control mechanism. We will know how much pesticides are being used, the sorts of areas in which they are used, the methods of use, and the reasons for their use. It is appropriate that the elected representatives of the people make a judgment as to whether or not pesticides are being used appropriately and advise the registrar accordingly.
It is particularly important that the ACT align initially with the nearby States so that we do not become a centre
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .