Page 3042 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 September 1993
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GREENHOUSE STRATEGY
Paper
Debate resumed from 19 May 1993, on motion by Mr Wood:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MR WESTENDE (8.52): Madam Speaker, we on this side of the house find no problem with the Minister's speech launching the ACT greenhouse strategy. In fact, we support the Minister's active promotion of an effective greenhouse strategy and the associated initiative to put it into effect. To use the Minister's words:
... it must provide a flexible framework within which issues can be addressed as they arise and, when viewed in the broader context, will lead to a reduced net greenhouse impact on the ACT.
Madam Speaker, we certainly find no problem with the Minister's statement and the Minister's wish regarding the use of energy reduction. The Minister referred to matters where the transport sector needs to improve its efficiency and effectiveness to reduce private car use. In fact, the encouragement of bicycles over motor vehicles is one area where we would have no problem in agreeing wholeheartedly with the Minister.
However, the recent proposed Federal tax increase on leaded petrol does not, I believe, solve the problem, whereas a more effective and efficient public transport system would go some way towards resolving it. Madam Speaker, we believe that the Federal legislation to increase the price of unleaded petrol will have the opposite effect of what was intended. After all, the intent is to remove cars which use leaded petrol off the road. What will happen, however, is that the poorer people who own these older vehicles will find that the trade-in values on their vehicles will be lowered to such an extent that it will be almost impossible for them to use the vehicle as a deposit on a vehicle which uses unleaded petrol. Therefore, instead of solving the problem, the Federal Government has extended it, as the poor will use these vehicles until such time as they literally stop dead in their tracks.
The Minister refers to how we can, in a practical way, utilise solar energy, and this is being further achieved through the development of a five-star energy efficiency rating scheme for houses. There are myriad other ways of reducing energy consumption. One of which I have personal experience is simply painting the interior wall in a factory white. This resulted in a 10 per cent reduction in electricity consumption.
The Minister also makes reference to the current trial of wheeled bins. We have heard today that we are going to have them. May I be so bold as to suggest this to the Minister: As trials have been held in other States and cities throughout Australia, rather than conduct further trials, why do we not implement the policy forthwith? We have heard a bit about that today. The Minister also refers to problems experienced with land fill. I am sure that he is aware that there are private firms in Canberra which have a great deal of experience in land fill management and refuse collection in the ACT and other Australian cities. I believe that this information is readily available from these firms on request.
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