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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3494 ..
MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):
Members will recall that when I tabled the Government's response to the 1995 ACT State of the Environment Report I foreshadowed an amendment to the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 to enable triennial reporting. I mentioned that the due date for presentation of the report would be changed to 31 March of each pre-election year. I have now received a letter on this matter from the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Joe Baker, which advises me that he will commence work on the first triennial report.
In his letter, Dr Baker confirms the understanding I had with him that if the Government were to support his recommendation for triennial reporting he would not be asked also to prepare an annual report for 1996. This means that he will not provide me with his annual report by 31 August as is currently required under the Commissioner for the Environment Act, and I therefore table Dr Baker's letter under paragraph 30A(7)(b) of the Interpretation Act.
Dr Baker plans to have his first report prepared under the new arrangements for triennial reports by 30 June 1997. Members will recall that it is the Government's intention to ensure that triennial reports are normally provided by 31 March in each pre-election year. I am in this instance supporting Dr Baker's need for the extra three months' preparation time, given the relatively short notice he has had to prepare the more comprehensive triennial report. For the information of members, I table a copy of my response to the letter from Dr Baker.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Paper
MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (4.42): For the information of members, I present the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Videotapes and move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
I ask for leave to have my tabling speech incorporated in Hansard.
Leave granted.
Document incorporated at Appendix 15.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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