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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (11 November) . . Page.. 3925 ..

MR CORBELL (3.25): Mr Speaker, the Labor Party welcomes the overall approach by the Government to the environment protection legislation. There has been a great deal of discussion and debate both within the committee process and more recently at a round table that was held last night, which the Minister referred to earlier. I would like to express my appreciation to the officers of Environment ACT who were present at that round table. It went for three hours or so and there was a very thorough discussion of all of the issues raised by the Planning and Environment Committee. Without their advice and input, I do not think we would be in the position we are in today, with the Government having accepted the overwhelming majority of the recommendations from the committee and given the committee some feedback on where they believe our recommendations did not take into account all the factors which they believed were necessary to particular areas of the Bill. Their support is greatly appreciated and I thank them again.

Clearly, the Environment Protection Bill is a very important piece of legislation. I have consistently said that it is the most significant piece of environment protection legislation to come before this Assembly. The Labor Party is very concerned to see that this piece of legislation is passed as quickly as possible. Fortunately, we have had a very thorough debate and discussion that will allow the Government to have this legislation implemented by Thursday. This is in marked contrast to what has happened with other significant legislation, such as that on electricity and water, on which the Government has not entered into the detailed consultation and discussion that it should have with Assembly members and with the wider community. On the environment protection legislation they have.

The issues of disagreement that the Government has flagged in its response relate to noise. The Fairbairn Park issue will be debated further, once the Government tables its regulations in this place. I am sure that we will have plenty of opportunity to address those issues then, so I will not do so now. I welcome the Government's willingness to provide the committee with information on those areas of Canberra affected by the averaging provisions in the legislation to do with noise levels. Hopefully, once we receive that information we will be able to work on a position which protects the amenity of residents but provides the flexibility that the Government is looking for. I must stress that in looking at that particular issue I will be focusing very strongly on the amenity of residents, to ensure that the noise levels residents will potentially be subjected to under this legislation are no more of an imposition than currently exists.

I welcome the Minister's announcement today that he intends to undertake a statutory review of the legislation within two years of it coming into operation. I think this is a very sensible proposal. Because this is such an extensive and comprehensive piece of legislation, because it is such a complex piece of legislation and because the requirements placed on the officers of Environment ACT to administer this piece of legislation are so strenuous and so complex, it is only sensible that two years down the track the Fourth Assembly have the opportunity to oversee the operation of the legislation.

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