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Mr Connolly: You said that it was agreed that she would remain on the body.

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, thank you. I am sorry; I am a bit slow. It was agreed that she would remain on the consultative group. Members have far more prurient minds than they ought to have, Mr Speaker. It was agreed that she should remain on this consultative panel, on the basis that she was still the president of the Eros Foundation and that it would be appropriate, because of other connections with that industry, for her to remain on that group.

It has recently been decided that the group should be expanded to include a representative of Workers In Sex Employment. Although I would not like to pretend that we have been remarkably efficient in this matter, in fact, a letter has been signed off today to Workers In Sex Employment, to invite them to nominate at least one or two people to be on that organisation to assist in the process of managing issues arising out of the Prostitution Act. I am also aware of other concerns that they have raised in the letter to me, which I have seen. I am very happy to take up those issues, and I have sought advice from my department about them.

Greenhouse Strategy

MS HORODNY: My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. Is the Government committed to the ACT greenhouse strategy? If so, how does it intend to implement recommendations in it?

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I can recall a few years ago a former Chief Minister being asked what were the greenhouse gases, and I hope that I am better informed on that subject than he was. I am not going to mention any names.

Mr Speaker, the ACT is a signatory to the 1992 National greenhouse response strategy. Although that was signed - or, at least, signed by the ACT - back in 1992, there is, of course, an ongoing range of issues which it gives rise to and which the ACT Government must ensure that it puts in place. In 1993, the ACT released its own greenhouse strategy, which focused on the areas where the ACT can make the greatest contribution in reducing greenhouse gas emissions; for example, in the areas of transport and energy use. Last year, the ACT released a report on its contribution to the first national summary report on progress towards the national greenhouse response strategy. The details of our progress in this area include such things as work in the area of transport, where, as members might know, under the initiative of the previous Government, new fuels and technologies are being trialled by ACT agencies. Members may have seen the diesohol bus running around town - I think it is still running around town - and ACTEW's electric car, which, obviously, if it were to be replicated on a wide scale, would make a significant contribution towards reduction of greenhouse gases.


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