Page 1631 - Week 06 - Thursday, 3 May 1990
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environment strategy. We also accept that the consultation paper on the greenhouse effect is designed to promote debate at the local level and that initiatives proposed in the document are, in many cases, at a preliminary stage.
In the light of these points, I will resist the temptation to criticise the paper for the lack of specific initiatives. I do, however, place the Government on notice that we will be monitoring this area and will make specific proposals if it appears that the Government is not following through with action. I hope that, in talking about some more detailed points today, I will be making constructive suggestions which will contribute to an eventual ACT plan of action.
There is, however, Mr Speaker, one matter which we should not allow to pass. In his statement, Mr Kaine correctly pointed out that waste management and recycling are an important part of the greenhouse response. He said that the Government would carefully consider the recommendations on waste management in the Conservation, Heritage and Environment Committee's report, and it must be said that the Government decision to close the Ainslie Transfer Station in the face of contrary recommendations from that committee is a fairly bad start. Indeed, it is a very bad start. I have said so in this place before and I will continue to say so.
The Labor Party endorses the five-part strategy which Mr Kaine has outlined, and I would like to take this opportunity to go through each of those five areas to make some comments and perhaps some particular proposals. The first part of that strategy is to take action to limit the greenhouse effect and its impact by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Though quite clearly the ACT is an insignificant contributor in world terms, we are obliged to play our part and I would like that to think that we may contribute to setting standards or developing new approaches.
The Government's statement promises specific action to phase out chlorofluorocarbons, consistent with national guidelines. However, it does not promise specific actions to control the other greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide and methane, which together contribute some 63 per cent of the Australian greenhouse gas problem. The carbon dioxide sources which we must tackle in the ACT include motor vehicles and wood burning fires. I recognise that some actions - for example, to control emissions from domestic fires - may be politically unpalatable. I would therefore like to assure the Government that the Labor Party will support action in this area. Wood fires not only have greenhouse implications but they also contribute to significant local air pollution during winter.
The clearest problem with motor vehicles is the use of private cars. I urge the Government to be mindful of the environmental implications of public transport. We must
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