Page 2769 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 1993
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PAPER
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services): Madam Speaker, for the information of members, I table draft regulations under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act that I referred to this morning when introducing the Bill.
HOUSEHOLDER SURVEY REPORT
Ministerial Statement and Paper
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I ask for leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on the 1993 ACT householder survey report.
Leave granted.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce the launch of the 1993 ACT householder survey report. The report marks the conclusion of the consultation process which began in March this year. At that time survey questionnaires were distributed to all Canberra households. As with its predecessor, the 1993 householder survey was well received by the community. Over one-third of all households participated. This exceeded the response received by the 1991 ratepayers survey. Data from the survey was made available to relevant agencies in June of 1993 and it is being drawn on in the development of their 1993-94 management plans.
The report provides a detailed analysis of the survey results. It includes an examination of the findings on a regional basis. The report provides important information on the community's views on major issues such as community safety and the quality of ACT health services. It presents valuable baseline data that will assist future planning and policy development in many other areas, including housing, energy use, water conservation, control of domestic pets, the use of ACTION bus services and ACT government shopfronts, the cleaning of public places and participation in organised sport.
Madam Speaker, I know that all Assembly members will read through the report with considerable interest and I would like now to highlight some of the findings. Energy use patterns have changed over the past five years. There has been a clear move away from wood as a primary heating source in both new and existing homes. ACTEW estimates that the resultant savings in carbon dioxide emissions is around 100,000 tonnes per annum in the local area. The analysis, however, also points to a reduction in the use of electricity and solar power for heating water in favour of gas. There may well be a need to increase awareness of the benefits of solar power. In relation to water conservation practices, the report points to the need for greater education and awareness of the benefits of indoor water conservation practices. The information provided on domestic pets is particularly valuable. It represents the first formal estimate of the ACT's dog and cat population. It also suggests that, on the whole, stray pets were not seen as a problem among respondents.
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