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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (3 December) . . Page.. 4406 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

information in an advertisement. While members may question why the penalty for false or misleading information is lower, members may also note that a purchaser may rescind a contract if the vendor fails to comply with the law. Similarly, with the amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act, as a precontractual agreement, failure to comply could also result in any subsequent contract being void. I believe that this adds a pretty hefty incentive to comply accurately with the legislation.

This Bill also explicitly sets out a requirement to get a fresh rating if building work that would affect the energy rating has been carried out. People would use commonsense and would be able to get advice from the Government or individual raters about whether a new rating is necessary. As indicated in the previous sitting period, currently a freestanding house costs, at the most, $100 to be rated. We have been informed that with increased demand the cost should come down, and for bulk ratings and ratings of blocks of flats the price could come down to below $50.

This legislation should create jobs, obviously, in conducting the audits but also over time in installing energy saving equipment as we create a more informed market for energy efficient housing in the ACT. The Greens have been arguing for some time that saving energy creates a lot more jobs than producing energy does. The home energy rating statement is the home energy rating system that is currently prescribed. Over time this may change. As members will be aware, there is a push to introduce a national scheme, NatHERS. I think there are also a number of ways the scheme could be improved - for example, by requiring new houses to be rated without curtains, carpets, et cetera. This would effectively require another star to be obtained for the rating of new houses. Another feature would be including in the rating scheme a more comprehensive coverage of the heating, cooking and lighting requirements, and the embodied energy - the energy that goes into making the materials and building the house.

Mr Speaker, over time these pieces of legislation will encourage more energy efficient housing and will help people save money at the same time as making a contribution to reducing greenhouse gases. I commend the Bills to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mrs Carnell) adjourned.

MS TUCKER (11.01): I present the Energy Efficiency Ratings (Sale of Premises) Bill 1997.

Title read by Clerk.

MS TUCKER: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, I have already spoken to this Bill in my previous speech.

Debate (on motion by Mrs Carnell) adjourned.

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