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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2940 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

The landmark "Green Jobs in Industry" report prepared by the Australian Conservation Foundation and ACTU green jobs in industry program predicted that energy efficiency and renewable energy industries could generate around 100,000 new net jobs in Australia over the next two decades. My colleague Bob Brown has also initiated a sun fund, currently under consideration by the Senate, to replace the current diesel fuel rebate, which returns about $1,440m per annum to farmers and miners. The sun fund proposal could see up to $85m of that being used by farmers who chose to take part, to install solar-powered options instead to provide electricity for homesteads and machinery sheds. The fund would help farmers and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and would be a major boost for Australia's renewable energy manufacturing industry.

Of course, in a debate about greenhouse I must address the issue of transport. Over 50 per cent of the ACT's energy consumption is in the transport sector. Obviously, in this debate it is very critical. We still have no integrated transport strategy in the ACT. If public transport was bad under the Labor Government, it has certainly got worse under the Liberal Government. It seems that the only concern has been to save money. Once again, we are not saying that all the solutions are simple, but what is needed is a genuine commitment to improve the reliability and frequency of public transport in the ACT.

Service levels on ACTION's basic network have halved since 1990, from five minutes to 10 on off-peak route 333 services, from 15 minutes to 30 on local routes during peak hours and from 30 minutes to 60 during off-peak hours. What is even more outrageous is that a government that went on and on about prices to consumers yesterday when we were debating battery hens has also supported continuing increases in bus fares. It is no wonder that ACTION's patronage has declined by 20 per cent in the last decade. We obviously need a radical overhaul of our approach to transport policy in the ACT.

I repeat that, when it comes to greenhouse, the future is green or not at all. I am very disappointed in this Government's actions so far on the issue of greenhouse. I believe it is one of the most critical issues that we all have to address in local government, in Federal government and internationally. I hope that this matter of public importance will stimulate greater debate. I am disappointed that there are so few people here for this debate. (Quorum formed)

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (4.16): I thank Ms Tucker for providing me with an audience for my remarks. I rise, more in sorrow than in anger, to indicate once again that I am disappointed with the Greens' approach generally on matters to do with the environment. I appreciate that they are a party which is basically all about the environment, a party which professes to have a strong interest in the environment and to push an aggressive line on the environment. That is understood. That is fair enough.

But I think it is incumbent on the Greens at the same time to ensure that when they speak about the environment they do so with a sense of what is practicable and achievable within a certain timeframe. Unfortunately, I have noticed a tendency for them to be absolutist about matters to do with the environment, a tendency to regard the environment as being a matter on which nothing but the very best will do and anybody who will not march with them all the way to Moscow is a quitter of some kind.

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