Page 1497 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 May 1990
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It was a wrong decision. Let us change it. Let me raise one point that tells us how wrong it was. On Monday Mr Duby was quoted extensively as saying that there had been consultation on this matter. He was very careful to say it and I was very careful to listen to the reports. But that did not hold up because on radio this morning I heard Mr Duby saying, "No, sorry". Perhaps the "sorry" was not in it; I do not know whether he was apologising. But he was saying, "No, there was no consultation". As I understand it, the matter went to Cabinet, so four people in this Assembly - four people in the whole of the ACT - had some discussion about it. Mr Duby conceded this morning, contrary to his earlier remarks, that there was no consultation.
Well, now is the time to undertake some of that consultation. That is the major part of the motion that Mr Moore proposes - he seeks some consultation. In the interests of open government, to use words that I have heard Mr Moore say, let us go out to the community and ask the people what they think. I think it is pretty clear what the people of north Canberra think; there is no doubt about that. They think it stinks. I will concede that they are only part of the community. Perhaps the people in Tuggeranong do not have great views about this matter, and people far out in Belconnen may not be greatly concerned, but something like one-fifth of the ACT's population is very angry about it. They are paying their money and they are getting nothing in return, or they are getting diminished services in return.
Let us go out and have that consultation. Let us explore what will happen. Let us tie this up with the energy report that the Conservation, Heritage and Environment Committee is now working on. Why would it not be a good solution for Mr Duby to say, as some people opposite did on the fluoride issue, "Okay, let's go back to where we were. We acted hastily. Let's restore our tip and refer this to the Conservation, Heritage and Environment Committee as it looks at energy use in the ACT. When it comes down with its report, we will then act on its recommendation whether to close the tip or not". That would be a sensible decision, and on this side of the house we would respect that. I believe that as the energy report proceeds - and it is just about under way now - it will point out that as far as we can we must encourage people not to drive their cars. Whenever a car trip can be avoided, it should be avoided. That will be one of the very clear messages coming out of that energy report. There will be a whole heap of others, I expect, but that will be one.
In that context I am sure that that committee would take steps to encourage the Government to keep open the Ainslie tip. Just that measure of consultation with the committee and, through the committee, with the community would result in that recommendation. So there you are, Mr Duby. When you get up after a quick huddle with your co-Ministers, why not propose to refer this matter to that committee? That is a good idea.
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