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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 8 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 2687 ..
MR STEFANIAK (continuing):
The industry is concerned that if consumers are encouraged to use softwood as a fuel, firstly they will be invalidating the product warranty and secondly they are going against an existing legislation to reduce emissions.
The manufacturers of wood heaters must have their heaters manufactured and certified to Australian Standards covering emissions and efficiency. Part of this certification is to place a metal plate on each heater advising the consumer of the type of fuel to be used. 99% of the 350 plus heaters are tested to hardwood. The cost of this to our industry has been in excess of $9,000,000.00. To now change the rules would again incur an enormous financial burden to an important Australian Industry.
We would ask that this requirement of licensed firewood sellers be carefully monitored to ensure that information to the consumer is not misleading in relation to what is achieved by using softwood in certified wood heaters.
Our member fuel merchants, retailers and manufactures in the ACT have been actively involved in the process of this licensing and we trust that you take heed of advice from within the industry on this particular point.
Yours sincerely,
Kay Jenkinson
Administration Officer.
I table the following paper:
Environment Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2000-Licence sale and supply of firewood-Copy of letter, dated 29 August 2000, from Administration Officer, Australian Home Heating Association Inc to Mr Bill Stefaniak MLA.
I think there are a number of factors here. Work is happening nationally, as my colleague said, through ANZECC. I think it would be better to address this issue nationally rather than the ACT leading the charge and perhaps getting certain things wrong in the process. There are a number of not terribly well-off individuals. This is a difficult industry for people who sell wood.
Whilst I have not seen any figures, my colleague Mr Smyth has indicated that he feels that Sydney is far worse than Canberra. From the times I have been to Sydney, I think commonsense would dictate that. It is difficult to make a simple comparison of Sydney data and Monash data. Sydney sea breezes tend to disperse any pollution, and Canberra inversions tend to concentrate pollution. Despite that, I think we are blessed here in Canberra with a wonderful environment.
I have recently come back from China, where pollution is quite staggering. Chinese parents who have kids in our schools are so highly impressed with this place it is not funny. They are impressed particularly with the fact that we are a safe city and an environmentally clean city. I think we are far more environmentally clean than Sydney. I find the figures Ms Tucker gave amazing.
Quite a number of people would be affected, perhaps adversely, if we were to rush in.
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