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in which they deal with bushfires and bushfire fuel. As a result, there is a tendency now towards more burning off as a way of reducing the build-up of combustible material in New South Wales. That is a process that we can probably debate, and should debate, at another time.

Mr Berry made reference to the fact that it may not be the best way of dealing with combustible material. I have to say that my mind is open on that subject as well. I do not yet know whether it is better to deal with these things by burning them off in the low season, such as autumn, or in some other way to reduce the level of material, or take some other steps towards preventing it from becoming a serious problem. That is the reason why this Government has acted quickly to deal with the issue of how to deal with combustible material building up in the ACT. Members will recall that the previous Government received a report from one Howard McBeth, a former Deputy Fire Commissioner in South Australia, on the build-up of combustible material in the ACT. That report, as members will also be aware, was not publicly released. It was suppressed by the previous Government. That report did not see the light of day until it was released by the Opposition shortly before the last election, and the warnings issued in that report became public knowledge - warnings such as there being a serious build-up in combustible material in the ACT. Mr Berry laughs about that, but at some point or other that build-up of combustible material could constitute a threat to property and even to life in the ACT. I, as Minister for the Environment, am not prepared to sit back, as the previous Government was, and sweep that problem under the carpet. That is a real issue of absolute concern to the Territory. It is a disgrace that that report was suppressed by the previous Government, and I think it needs to ask the question of itself: Why?

As a result, within seven days of taking office, this Government appointed a task force to review bushfire fuel management in the ACT. The terms of reference of that task force are to review current practices of bushfire fuel management in the Territory and recommend appropriate policies and practices for bushfire fuel management, having regard to protection of life and property, environmental and conservation issues. The review itself has to look at things like the Bushfire Act, the Rural Fire Control Manual, the provisions of the Air Pollution Act 1984, the Nature Conservation Act 1980, the Fire Brigade Act 1957, associated management plans and existing policies and practices. Those are all issues that ought to have been addressed urgently in this Territory some time ago. Members will also be aware that the task force has a broad membership consisting of representatives of bodies such as the CSIRO, the Bushfire Council, the Chief Fire Control Officer and the Environment and Conservation Division of DELP. I believe, Mr Speaker, that that task force is working satisfactorily. It is meeting on a weekly basis and has been doing so since 31 March.

Mr Berry accurately stated that there was a problem with bushfire burn-offs in New South Wales. He also accurately described the nature of the problem with smoke drifting across from New South Wales to the ACT and the very serious impact it has on the health of people in the ACT. Those affected by the rise in airborne particulates include particularly the young and the elderly because of the implication of things like asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. Those are all important issues which we should face up to. But the big question that has to be asked is: Why was it only when this Government took office two months ago that action actually started on these questions? Why was it that Mr Berry and

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