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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (4 November) . . Page.. 3535 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

what the medium-term pricing over the next two to three years should be. Presumably, part of that review will be a review of the green tariff. But the decisions on this matter were not made arbitrarily. They will not be changed arbitrarily. Whenever a change is proposed, I am quite sure that the pricing commissioner will take into account what is happening in New South Wales, as well as what is happening in the Australian Capital Territory.

MS TUCKER: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Minister, are you interested in encouraging consumers in the ACT to be part of the green power scheme? It is not my understanding that it has anything to do with the pricing commissioner; this is an option that people can choose. I would like clarification of whether you are saying that the commissioner had anything to do with the green power scheme. The second question, to which I would like an answer, is: Do you believe that there will be the same participation as New South Wales is getting, when it is going to be over 70 per cent more on a bill?

MR KAINE: I am afraid that I do not have a crystal ball. What we have done is offer a green power tariff. It is now dependent upon the community's reaction to that green power tariff. If the community support that green power tariff to the extent that the Greens seem to think that they will, then we would move fairly quickly to establish alternative green energy sources in the Territory. That is the objective of it; that is what the increased tariff is for. The difference between the normal tariff and the green power tariff is being channelled into research and development. It will be accounted for separately. It will be quite transparent. But I cannot forecast how much money will be raised and where that money will go. Until we get some indication of the extent to which the community responds to that - and that will be translated into people putting in applications to adopt the green power tariff - I am afraid I cannot make any prophecy as to what the future for green power in Canberra is.

The fact is that we have given the ACT community the choice, and we will have to wait and see whether the community responds to that and adopts the concept of green power. If they do, then it will become a feature of the future. If they do not, I imagine the green power concept will disappear. We cannot afford to generate green power at the costs that are involved and still sell it at the same tariff as applies to ordinary energy supply. As I say, it is up to the community. If the Greens really believe in this, they should be out there encouraging everybody they know to fill out an application form and apply to be green power tariff supporters.

MR WHITECROSS: My question is to the Minister for Sport. Although Mrs Carnell normally answers the Minister's questions, I hope the Minister for Sport will answer this one.

MR SPEAKER: Just address the question, Mr Whitecross.

MR WHITECROSS: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

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