Page 979 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 26 July 1989
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Mr Speaker, what I really wanted to do in this case and at this time was to draw your attention and that of the rest of the house to this statement by the Deputy Chief Minister in relation to how he claims we are using this article as the major source. I can assure him that it certainly would have been one of the items that was used by the people who helped us with the research on this, but it was not all the work that was done. It is quite clear, as you can see from my past comment, that Mr Whalan is trying to misrepresent, in a way, the work that Mr Collaery has done on this matter.
I think it is very important that we ensure the future cost to the ACT, if there are any rip-offs in relation to the way we are receiving our gas. It is inconceivable to me, Mr Speaker, that there should be this massive difference between the costs here and in New South Wales. The new legislation in relation to the control of gas in the ACT is vital, I would suggest. That is the key point; that is what we are on about.
The Government is talking about not having enough business or not being prepared to have its business ready so that it can put it to the house. This is one piece of legislation, Mr Speaker, that I suggest should have been high in its priorities. It is a safety matter - a very important and critical safety matter, Mr Speaker. This is the sort of legislation that I suggest the Government should be bringing forward at the earliest opportunity so that the people in the ACT can rest assured that the reticulation of natural gas in our beautiful city is as safe as it possibly can be and properly, efficiently and effectively reticulated and controlled.
MR MOORE (3.36): There has been quite a lot of gas blowing around this chamber, has there not, Mr Speaker? The draft legislation that has been prepared really ought to be tabled in the Assembly so that it can be considered by us. Obviously we have a relatively urgent matter when substances such as natural gas are already in our system, and it is quite right that they should be so. It is most important for us to see that it is all done according to the wishes and desires of the people of Canberra, and that can be done through that appropriate legislation. So I urge the Government to be as smart as it can about getting that legislation to the house before we have any long breaks of the type proposed which we will be discussing later in the day.
I draw particular attention to a connection fee. It has been AGL's practice to charge a connection fee, with a couple of exceptions - when it puts the gas into a particular street it usually gives people the opportunity at that point to connect their houses free, and also when people have been prepared to put on major units like central heating units for which they will use considerable gas. Then it has been its practice to waive the connection fee. My understanding is that of late it has changed this
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