Page 4423 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 1993
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the Coal Institute in Melbourne, and we believe that that is a fairly good safeguard. We would like to make one further suggestion to the Minister. In our discussions most of the reputable fuel merchants expressed a wish to see a code of conduct developed where the members voluntarily agree to observe the code of conduct and, in fact, would be prepared to advertise against those merchants who do not observe the self-regulation. The Minister might like to take this recommendation on board. Irrespective of that, we are happy to support the amendments.
MR MOORE (4.53): Madam Speaker, I was proud to be part of the Standing Committee on Conservation, Heritage and Environment when we brought down our report on fuelwood heating in the ACT. Members who work on committees take pride in seeing their recommendations implemented in legislation. We appreciate it when a Minister recognises our recommendations and moves to have them implemented in a practical way in legislation, as Mr Wood has done in this case. So, Madam Speaker, it is with pleasure that I offer my support to this Bill.
I notice in the Bill a change in terms of the Subordinate Laws Act from 15 sitting days to five sitting days as that Act applies in certain areas of this Act. It seems to me, Madam Speaker, that in many areas we probably need to look more carefully at our subordinate laws legislation now that it has been in practice for a couple of years. Fifteen sitting days can be a very long period. Members do have time to look at subordinate legislation and to assess whether or not there is a need to move for disallowance. I think in these instances that the change from 15 days to five days is quite appropriate.
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (4.54), in reply: Madam Speaker, I thank members for their comments and their support. I agree with Mr Moore that it is a good process when reports from committees are dealt with in this way. It shows the infrequently reported but productive side of this Assembly when this process occurs. I think we would all agree that the environment in Canberra is pretty good, and we certainly want to keep it that way. Indeed, we want to improve it. If we do have a problem in respect of the quality of air, it occurs in winter in some parts of Canberra, especially in Tuggeranong. It is appropriate to take measures like this to see whether we can improve it. I went to the top of a hill - Oxley Hill, I think it was - early one morning - - -
Mr Cornwell: Did you bring down 10 tablets of stone by any chance?
MR WOOD: No, I did not. Actually, there is a tablet up there. From that point you can see the occasional chimney that is really contributing to that haze. I do not know whether we will ever subsequently go and locate a door - - -
Mr Humphries: O'Connor, was it not? The worst edge of O'Connor?
MR WOOD: No, O'Connor is not too bad. I can tell you that I do have a chimney and an open fireplace; but it is built over, I am afraid, and we do not use it. We can identify places. It means that we can take action, possibly, but our approach is to educate the community. I note the point in that respect that Mr Westende makes about a code of practice amongst the wood merchants.
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