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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 4114 ..

MR DE DOMENICO (continuing):

There is the introduction of integrated environment protection legislation governing all aspects of pollution, ozone protection and environmentally hazardous materials. There was nothing like that mentioned by Ms Horodny. There is $112,000 for experimental composting and worm farming research. She said nothing about that. There is over $3m for assessment and remediation of contaminated sites surrounding former sheep dips - something started by the previous Labor Government and continued by this Government. There was not a mention of that by Ms Horodny. There is half a million dollars through continuing energy management programs in government buildings to reduce excess energy consumption and improve heating and cooling units, ultimately saving on the Government's energy bills. There was no mention of that by Ms Horodny.

A real and successful waste management strategy - in fact, the most successful in the country - the effects of which have already been seen, kerbside recycling and other waste management initiatives have seen a 40 per cent reduction in waste being delivered to tips, proving that Canberrans are willing to accept environmentally-friendly measures.

Ms Horodny: What has kerbside recycling to do with this budget?

MR DE DOMENICO: There is the classic comment: "What has kerbside recycling to do with this budget?". Who pays for the tips, Ms Horodny?

Ms Horodny: It is two years old. What has it to do with this budget?

MR DE DOMENICO: I do not have time to argue with you. The $728,000 for weed control, dismissed glibly by Ms Horodny, including $150,000 - - -

Ms Horodny: I have had no response on how that money is being spent.

MR DE DOMENICO: I heard you in silence, believe it or not. It is too early in the morning to have argy-bargy across the floor.

I was mentioning the $150,000 to control woody weeds in Canberra Nature Park, Mr Speaker. Environmentally-friendly initiatives are to be trialled in the new Condamine Court housing development being done by Mr Stefaniak, including solar collectors, stormwater retention and grey water recycling. There is the development of action plans for the protection of threatened species in the 500-hectare Gungahlin grassland reserve. It goes on and on. Mr Speaker, this Government has a very good record on the environment. It has a very good record on public transport. It is getting very close to the stage of having the most effective and cost-efficient public transport system in the country - with the cooperation, might I say, of the Transport Workers Union. They are to be congratulated for cooperating with the Government in the way they did. This Government is very proud of its record, Mr Speaker. It is very proud of its budget. I commend this line to the Assembly.

MR WHITECROSS (Leader of the Opposition) (2.03 am): Mr Speaker, I rise to support some of Ms Horodny's remarks about the environment budget. She covered some of the ground that I was going to cover about the way in which this Government - - -

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