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cover south-eastern Australia, there will be a national oversight of pricing and performance by the various electricity suppliers. Therefore, customers will be protected in two ways. This will bind ACTEW as it will bind those corporate entities that produce and distribute electricity and water in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. Mr Speaker, this Government, as do other State governments, supports such controls as a means of ensuring that unfair competitive practices are not permitted.

By operating on a more efficient and focused basis through corporatisation, costs may be reduced, thereby minimising any price increases. I think it should be pointed out that recent price increases announced by ACTEW had nothing to do with corporatisation, that they were well within the CPI increase and that the increase in electricity charges was the first in three years. ACTEW continues to make returns to the Territory by means of the annual dividend which, as members will appreciate, is calculated on the basis of tax equivalent payable to the Territory, plus a proportion of the profit after tax, plus interest. In the past four years, the dividend to the Territory has totalled almost $90m. It is this Government's commitment that any future dividend will be returned to the community; but, for the people of Canberra to receive the benefits of these dividends, ACTEW must be in the best position to produce the profits at first instance.

I have been asked on a regular basis, Mr Speaker, what impact corporatisation will have on my constituents and the constituents living in Molonglo and Ginninderra. Mr Osborne in particular asked about the constituents in my electorate, Brindabella, which is also the electorate of Mr Wood, Mr Kaine and Mr Whitecross. It is true that corporatisation will not result in stronger lighting or faster flowing water. I am, however, confident that ACTEW will be able to improve upon its excellent service record. If ACTEW's performance is prejudiced, although the effect upon the people of Canberra may not be felt immediately, it will affect them, nevertheless, through reduced dividends and the depletion of a community asset. For that reason it is in the interests of all Canberrans to see ACTEW corporatised.

Another concern raised is about the consequences of corporatisation for ACTEW's activities with respect to the environment. I can assure the members present that ACTEW's longstanding commitment to the environment will continue after ACTEW is corporatised. The efficient distribution and use of electricity and water and the treatment of sewage effluent are major environmental issues that have been a focus of ACTEW's interest in research and development in the past and are part of its activities which will continue to be the focus of ACTEW's interest after 1 July 1995. They remain a high priority of this Government and will be a key factor in ACTEW's continuing development and growth.

In April this year, Mr Speaker, I opened three energy efficient houses in Nicholls. I give credit to the previous Government. These houses were commenced by the previous Government under the purview of Mr Lamont. The aim of this initiative and others like it is to educate the community on conservation strategies. There is no logical reason to conclude that corporatisation will diminish these initiatives. The fact is that in today's business climate, as it will be in tomorrow’s, being environmentally conscious

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