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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 4875 ..

MR MOORE (5.25): It is interesting, Mr Speaker, that the Chief Minister says that this will be considered from an industry and environment point of view; but, in fact, that is not what the amendment says when I read it. The amendment says that an industry impact statement is a statement prepared by the Minister describing the likely costs and benefits of the energy efficiency rating statement to the real estate and housing industries. It does not say what is the impact in terms of the environment at all. It does not indicate what is the social impact, in terms of tenants in the long term who have been able to save money; rather, it picks on a couple of specific industries. I think that the Minister, if the Minister would like to, is welcome to go and do this. Nobody is going to stop a Minister going ahead and doing this statement, I would suggest.

Ms Tucker: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Can I just comment that I think Mr Moore has the wrong version. There is actually a later one which takes into account the environment.

MR MOORE: I will throw that one away.

Ms Tucker: That was their original intention, though. So, it was good that you pointed it out.

MR MOORE: Thanks.

MR SPEAKER: There have been too many late amendments. It is no wonder it is all confusing. But go on.

MR MOORE: It is, indeed, Mr Speaker. I apologise for commenting on that earlier version. I still think that, if a Minister wants to go ahead and do this, there is nothing to stop them doing it. I would be happy for them to do that. I just do not think it is necessary to put it in legislation. But I must say that, now that it at least has an environment impact, that is a step forward. It talks about consumers generally now. That was my major concern. So, I do not much mind how this goes.

MR CORBELL (5.28): Mr Speaker, the Labor Party will be supporting this amendment proposed by the Government. We do believe that it is appropriate that industry and the community generally have an understanding of the impact on them of the development of energy efficiency rating statements and regulations which are before the house. We believe that it is a sensible compromise, and it is one we are certainly prepared to support.

MS TUCKER (5.28): It was a quite fortuitous accident that Mr Moore read out the wrong one, because I think it is an indication of how heavily people are being lobbied at the moment. It is absolutely outrageous and alarming that the Minister for the Environment, who wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, could have come up with the proposal that there just be an industry impact assessment. Basically, what we are trying to address is the sway that industry has in determining policy in this country. If only we could have an environmental impact assessment on all the initiatives that occur, we would have a very different outcome. But I am glad that this clause will be inserted to actually include an environmental impact statement as well.

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