Page 4702 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 7 December 1994
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This is a very positive response, but I do have one underlying concern about it. It should not become a way of justifying what you are doing; rather, we must ensure that it is a check-off against those long-term strategies. We have to be very careful and make sure that we do that effectively. There are a number of cases in the report that, from my scanning, suggest to me that it is more a justification rather than a tying-in of those key principles.
There is one point in particular that I would like to comment on, and that is the ACT energy strategy. I noted the status of framework development being undertaken by the Department of Urban Services Energy Management Unit. The work being done by ACTEW in that area should be taken into account also. That unit should be working, and probably is working, with ACTEW; although it does not appear in here. I welcome the report. I am delighted that the Government has taken this approach. I am absolutely pleased with the efforts of Ms Szuty, in particular, in getting this part of our platform under way.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION - PROPOSED INTEGRATED LEGISLATION
Papers
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Heritage and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (3.33): Madam Speaker, for the information of members, I present the second discussion paper for a proposal for integrated environment protection legislation, together with an information sheet, and I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the papers.
In October last year, the Government released a discussion paper on the proposed integrated environment protection legislation. The paper sought comments from the community on the broad approach suggested in the paper to replace current pollution control legislation. The responses to the discussion paper broadly supported the Government's approach to this vital area of environmental management. Some also raised specific issues and provisions to be considered for inclusion in the legislation. Given the complex issues involved, the Government formed a reference group to assist my department progress the initiative. The reference group includes representatives from conservation, legal, business and health organisations, and is chaired by the ACT Office of the Environment, within my department. The group has met several times and has provided valuable input to the development of the proposal.
I believe that we have now have reached the stage where further public scrutiny of the proposed direction of the legislation is appropriate. Consequently, my department has prepared a second discussion paper to outline in some detail a preferred approach to environmental protection legislation. The proposed legislation would replace the current legislation relating to air and water pollution, ozone depletion and the management of pesticides and noise. It would also have the capacity to deal with other environmental
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