Page 1178 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 24 June 1992
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MR CONNOLLY: I thank Mr Humphries for his question. That facility was somewhat controversial at the time. We reviewed, when we came into government, whether we would proceed with it; but the contracts had been let and work was considerably advanced from the original decision to place it there, which was made under your Government. I know that you were not the Minister responsible. Given your recent comments, which I broadly endorse - that the Belconnen Remand Centre has a limited life and, in the ideal world, should not be there and we should replace it with a new facility - perhaps if we had both had responsibility for the initial decision we would not have made that substantial investment decision. Nevertheless, the decision was made.
I do not have a recent update on when it was finished. I did ask officials some time ago what was the situation and have not got the final report back. I do not believe that it is the staffing matter, because staff have been employed. In fact, we have the qualified staff for that. At the moment they are doing other duties out at BRC, but not in the unit. I will certainly undertake to find out precisely what the current situation is with an opening date. Mr Humphries is accurate. The original projection was March and I have, from time to time, made inquires and have been told that things are progressing; but I have not yet got a date. I will also undertake to give Mr Humphries the detailed financial breakdown of the costs, both capital and salary. I would note that some of the trained salaried staff are already on budget and are performing other duties in the remand centre.
Smoke Pollution
MS ELLIS: My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. What is the Government doing about smoke pollution caused by wood-burning stoves in Canberra, particularly within the Tuggeranong Valley?
Mr Kaine: They are putting a lid on it.
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, there are many in the community who would wish us to put a lid on it. Winter again brings out one of Canberra's major air pollution problems, and that is the pollution caused by smoke from your household fire. The problem is quite noticeable for a variety of reasons, well known in Tuggeranong. It puts authorities in a difficult position. Wood-burning stoves are an important feature in the homes of many people. I am sure Mr De Domenico is one who goes home, puts his slippers on and has his glass of sherry brought to him in front of the fire.
Mr De Domenico: Yes, doloroso. You are right.
MR WOOD: I am disappointed to hear that. Wood-burning fires are an important feature of home life for many people and it is not possible for us simply to say, "That is it, folks; we are going to regulate you out of existence". Nevertheless, Mr De Domenico and others - I am sure he is a fine example - must attend to the pollution that their chimneys cause. It is the case in Canberra that, if you operate a factory or have an industrial chimney, there are limits on the emissions from that chimney. But there are no such limits on the tens of thousands of chimneys in suburban houses. I would suspect that some of those chimneys would emit more smoke than some of the better industrial chimneys, and collectively they add an enormous smoke load to the ACT environment.
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