Page 4796 - Week 16 - Thursday, 29 November 1990
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However, in closing, in case there is any suggestion that, in fact, the vast majority of rural leaseholders are not meeting their responsibilities, let me place on record that rural leaseholders in the ACT are a very important link in the protection of our environment. They adopt a very responsible approach, as well as often putting their lives on the line when bush and grass fires threaten life and property within the ACT. It is in their interest to ensure that proper management is provided. It is also a responsibility of Government, however, to ensure that the necessary legislation and legislative backing is provided for those farmers, if you like, and rural leaseholders who take responsible action. They should receive support from the Government in their enforcement actions, as opposed to those one or two who may not, in fact, take a similarly responsible approach to the management of their land.
Before I sit down, might I, once again, emphasise that this is a very, very minute aspect but it is a very important aspect of the control and management of land in the ACT.
MR MOORE (11.27): At the outset let me say that I support this Bill in principle. I give credit to the Government for bringing on this matter which, I think, is recognised generally as being a matter of some urgency as we approach the bushfire season.
One of the things that interest me is the final paragraph - almost an afterthought paragraph - of the Minister's speech when he tabled this Bill, in which he said:
The Bill also addresses the term of office of the Bush Fire Council by extending the term from one year to three years, and providing for the chairman and deputy chairman to be appointed by the Minister.
This is an area that is of some interest to me. When Labor was in office they favoured their advisory council as a method of operating. I accept that as being their method of operating. I supported that while they were in. I have had this discussion on a number of occasions with Mr Humphries, who favours a different system. He has appointed his health board and has given them power and the ability to make decisions, which, I gather, he is about to support with legislation that has been tabled today. If that is his management style, I am quite happy to support that as well.
Personally, I slightly favour the style that Labor uses because I think you can hold the Minister more responsible. However, I quite accept that Mr Humphries' method - the Liberal method - is slightly different and fulfils the function. Of course, the Minister is still responsible. If that board is not performing its duties, then he has the responsibility to take action which could, at the extreme, be removing the board and replacing it with a new one. It is just a different management style, and I quite accept
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