Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 16 ..

Motion (by Mr Humphries) agreed to:

That Executive business be called on.

Debate resumed from 4 September 1996, on motion by Mr Humphries:

That the Assembly takes note of the papers.

MS HORODNY (12.01): The Greens generally support the weeds strategy. We hope that it will actually achieve its mission of effectively and efficiently controlling weeds in the ACT. As the strategy notes, weeds have been a problem in the ACT for well over half a century. From my perspective, the problem has been steadily growing worse. There is definitely a need to confront the weed problem directly before our natural ecosystems are almost totally overtaken by introduced species. We agree that weed control requires a focused, cooperative effort from government, leaseholders and the general community. It also requires a regional effort with the surrounding local government areas. No strategy will work unless it is implemented thoroughly. We need enough resources to be allocated by the Government so that all its measures can be fully implemented in a timely and sustained way.

I do not want to disappoint Mr Humphries by having absolutely nothing to criticise. I do have some comments to make. The level of financial resources allocated by the Government to weed control will always be a matter for debate, obviously. In the last budget, the Government announced that $728,000 would be allocated to weed control; but it is unclear how this money will be spent. I have asked questions of the Minister. I note that the amount allocated for weed control in the draft 1997-98 capital works program seems to be $215,000.

Mr Humphries: That is just in capital works.

MS HORODNY: Yes. I would not mind some clarification on that point, because the Minister made a big issue of the $728,000 being allocated. I would like some answers to those questions. It is not just expenditure by the Government that is of concern. The strategy depends greatly on the work of leaseholders and volunteers through the Landcare and Parkcare programs. These people are also in need, in terms of training and equipment. Conservation groups, like the Conservation Council and the National Parks Association, also run their own programs and their own projects that contribute to weed control; yet these groups are struggling, with very little help from the Government at the moment, and there is a lot of insecurity about their funding.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .