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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (29 March) . . Page.. 1205 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

In this respect the committee was struck by the support of peak groups such as the Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra and ACTCOSS for the concept of public input into a draft budget. Both peak groups supported the draft budget process. I think this shows that the parliament is developing something innovative and valuable. It would not be fair, Mr Speaker, if I did not add that both groups expressed concern about the short time frame for the inquiry. My committee looks forward to receiving their suggestions about how the process might be improved in future years.

Mr Speaker, I will conclude by saying that I am pleased that the committee was able to produce a good report in the time available. I am also pleased about the valuable input from the various community groups who made oral or written submissions to my committee. I would also like to pay tribute to my two hard-working members, Mr Rugendyke and Mr Corbell, as well as our secretary, Mr Rod Power. I thank them for their assistance. I commend the report to the house.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Consideration of executive business

Suspension of standing and temporary orders

Motion (by Mr Moore ) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:

That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent Executive business, order of the day relating to the Tree Protection (Interim Scheme) Bill 2001 being called on forthwith.

Tree Protection (Interim Scheme) Bill 2001

Detail stage

Clauses 1 to 5, by leave, taken together and agreed to.

Clause 6.

MR CORBELL (5.12): I move the amendment circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 1219]. Mr Speaker, as I foreshadowed in the in-principle debate, this amendment amends subclause 6 (1) of the bill. It relates to the definition of a significant tree. My amendment proposes that, instead of having three separate provisions in relation to eucalypts, eucalypts with multiple trunks, and any other species of tree, there are four definitions of what is a significant tree. My amendment proposes that a tree is a significant tree if it is on leased land and it is 12 or more metres high, or has a trunk with a circumference of 1.5 metres or more one metre above natural ground level, or has two or more trunks and the total circumference of all the trunks one metre above natural ground level is 1.5 metres or more, or the tree has a canopy of 12 metres or more wide.

The reason I am doing this is that the Labor Party believes it is sensible to have a broader range of large trees given interim protection until-this is the important point-a more comprehensive consultation process is undertaken to determine exactly which trees the

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