Page 3020 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 5 December 1989
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shows that this Government was working very strongly hand in hand with the community. We agreed to construct three purpose-built women's refuges and one youth refuge, which will expand the Territory's crisis accommodation facilities.
Improving home ownership schemes was the next major priority of this Government in the housing review. There is much to be done and much to look forward to here. We are developing shared equity schemes; we are planning to improve housing options for the aged, people with disabilities and women. No other ACT government will have the vision or the determination to follow these through - certainly not the opposition over there.
Mr Speaker, during the election campaign the Labor Government gave high priority to the protection of the ACT's environment. In the Chief Minister's ministerial statement on the objectives of the Government she said that her Government would ensure that environmental issues were given high priority, and this we did. Mr Speaker, I am proud to say that in only seven months this Government has honoured this commitment. Last week the Chief Minister released a comprehensive draft environment strategy for the ACT. Many of the initiatives taken in my portfolio are consistent with this strategy. Again, I thank FM104.7 and my department for the fact that they encouraged people to plant trees on Mount Taylor. We involved the community again; we did not do it on our own.
Recently I announced substantial amendments to the Air Pollution Act, to implement the national strategy for ozone protection. I declared the Bimberi Wilderness Area in Namadgi National Park. The Nature Conservation Act has been substantially updated, and provision has been made for the special protection of endangered species. There have been major changes to the Water Pollution Act and the Air Pollution Act.
A new Pesticides Act has been brought into operation. The ACT will no longer become a dumping ground for the rest of Australia. The Government has approved the drafting of substantial amendments to the Careless Use of Fire Act, the Stock Act and the Stock Diseases Act, and is about to consider similar proposals for the legislation controlling hazardous chemicals and wastes.
The bushland around Canberra, known as the Canberra Nature Park, is one of the great features of this city, but it is largely unprotected and could be taken away in the future. The Government moved swiftly to ensure that these areas are protected for future generations. We established an extensive community consultation process to develop a management plan to protect the Canberra Nature Park. Over 3,700 residents and community groups are now involved in this process. This is what we did, but they are telling us we did not do it. This is positive proof of our commitment both to the environment and to consulting and listening to the people of Canberra.
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