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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1845 ..

MS HORODNY (continuing):

(a) any special factor which the Commissioner believes had a significant impact on the environment during the period;

(b) measures taken during the period by or on behalf of the Territory in relation to the implementation of any recommendation in a State of the Environment Report under section 19 or a special report under section 21; and

(c) any recommendation in such a report which the Commissioner believes is still to be implemented or fully implemented.'.".

Mr Humphries said in his presentation speech that the Bill will not prevent the commissioner from preparing interim annual reports to provide updated information or a topical report card if he wishes. The reason we have tightened this up is that, although the Bill does not prevent it, it certainly does not encourage it, and we want to see that that is actually part of the process. The amendment makes it clear that the commissioner must provide in his annual reports additional information on the matters included in my amendment but leaves to his discretion what he includes in his annual report, so that it is not imposing on the commissioner a burden over which he has no control.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (4.04): Mr Speaker, the Government supports this amendment because it believes it further clarifies the sorts of things that the commissioner might report on in non state of the environment reporting years. I think it enhances the capacity of the commissioner to deliver the appropriate messages about the environment at the appropriate time. The amendment is supported by the Government.

Proposed new clause agreed to.

Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 1

Debate resumed from 18 June 1997.

Debate (on motion by Mr Humphries) adjourned.

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