Page 2579 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 October 1992
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Wednesday, 14 October 1992
__________________________
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms McRae) took the chair at 10.30 am and read the prayer.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO MEMBER
Motion (by Ms Szuty) agreed to:
That leave of absence from 14 to 16 October 1992 inclusive be given to Mr Moore.
FUEL AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
MS ELLIS (10.31): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) congratulates the staff and students of Lake Tuggeranong College following their recent success in the 1992 Shell Mileage Marathon at Amaroo Park; and
(2) recognises the initiatives of the ACT Government in developing and encouraging the use of fuel and energy efficiency in our community.
Madam Speaker, we are all aware of the importance of energy efficiency in this day and age. Countries throughout the world have, as a priority, schemes and strategies to ensure energy efficiency in housing, transport and industry. Australia is part of this international strategy and is itself involved in many programs - global, national and local. It is important for us as Canberrans to ensure our involvement in this process. It is equally important to know why we have involved ourselves and what the importance of energy and fuel efficiency is.
Madam Speaker, governments in Australia have a target to reduce greenhouse gases in their local area. Local, State and Federal governments are involved in this process, and it is this process which will ensure that the generations following us will live in a safe environment. The greenhouse effect is the result of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including the human introduced gas of chlorofluorocarbons. The combined effect of these gases is changing the climate. The earth is increasingly becoming warmer. If we do not work to halt global warming over the next 50 years we are likely to see increased flooding and rainfalls, our oceans expanding and thus threatening fresh water supplies, and increased temperatures worldwide.
Of course, Madam Speaker, there are many ways in which to slow down or even halt global warming. Governments around the world are party to treaties and protocols to halt the greenhouse effect. State and local governments run education campaigns and conserve energy in commercial buildings, transport
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