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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 2 Hansard (2 March) . . Page.. 542 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

In the commission's price determination for the period 1999-2000 to 2003-04, the commission set prices that excluded the water abstraction charge. However, the determination referred both to the amount of the charge and to how it should be treated. The Government sought advice on the amount and application of the charge based on economic and environmental principles on the structure and level of charge that should apply. The commission provided that advice and recommended that the charge should be in the order of 10c. The commission also indicated that the charge should be passed on to consumers by ACTEW in the final billing to consumers.

Legal advice received by ACTEW indicated that the commission recommendation was insufficient as a direction under the terms of the Energy and Water Act 1988. Consequently, the Government issued a reference to the commission for a direction to ACTEW authorising the passing through of the charge. The commission has satisfied the conditions of that reference with this report. The water abstraction charge will be passed through to water users by ACTEW from 16 March this year.

There are a number of facets to the water abstraction charge direction. ACTEW will apply the 10c per kilolitre charge to all consumers, except churches legislated to be churches in perpetuity. Churches legislated to be churches in perpetuity are exempt from water and sewerage charges. Schools, other churches and ecclesiastical properties that currently receive a 50 per cent discount funded through a community service obligation will have the full 10c per kilolitre charge applied, due to the requirements of the Water Resources Act 1998.

Similarly, the Water Resources Act 1998 requires the water abstraction charge to apply to the first kilolitre of water consumed, which currently incurs no usage charge. Unmetered dwellings such as flats that have a deemed consumption will have a 10c per kilolitre charge applied on a pro rata basis. In addition, for the water abstraction charge to show a clear signal to consumers about the scarcity of water and the environmental costs associated with its use, the commission has determined that ACTEW identify the charge as a separate entry on customers' bills.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (4.18): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Government's response to the Standing Committee on Health and Community Care's Report No. 3, entitled "Public Hospital Waiting Lists". The report was presented to the Assembly on 24 November 1999. I move:

Mr Speaker, I am responding today to the report of the Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Health and Community Care inquiry into public hospital waiting lists. I do not think that I will provoke any argument when I say that there can always be room for improvement in the management of waiting times for elective surgery.

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