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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3136 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

attempting to protect the environment. The approach is still, however, to view the environment as an add-on. So, we often look at fixing up environmental problems once economic priorities are implemented. We certainly see that in the Federal sphere at the moment with John Howard's discussions on greenhouse. On the other hand, ecologically sustainable development requires the integration of the environment and economic development at the outset of decision-making processes.

To achieve progress with this, we urgently need to restructure our current economic decision-making models. We hear a lot of rhetoric about whole-of-government approaches to incorporating social, environmental and economic factors in decision-making and policy implementation, but we see very few practical examples of how this can be implemented. When we debated the Greens' amendments aimed at incorporating environmental accounting, I outlined some current Australian and international developments in this area. I also argued that we cannot wait until we have the perfect model. We never will. Just as the Government has embarked on what it views as groundbreaking changes to financial management and acknowledges that there is continual finetuning that needs to be made along the way, we have argued that we must give new, innovative and relevant economic models a go. I look forward to the ACT leading the way in developing new models.

Environmental accounting must go hand in hand with other reforms. As members are aware, I have on the notice paper a Bill to broaden the role of the Auditor-General. So, when we debate that, I am looking forward to a response from all members of this place which indicates that indeed they now have a greater understanding of the critical importance of addressing these broader issues which, until quite recently, have been regarded as external to the whole system. They are not. They must be seen as part of it. I congratulate the Government on getting this status paper up, and I look forward to reading it.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General): Mr Speaker, pursuant to section 6 of the Subordinate Laws Act 1989, I present subordinate legislation in accordance with the schedule of gazettal notices for determinations.

The schedule read as follows:

Adoption Act - Adoption Regulations - Determination of fees - No. 207 of 1997 (S265, dated 9 September 1997).

Associations Incorporation Act - Determination of fees - No. 203 of 1997 (S265, dated 9 September 1997).

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