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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 2 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 446 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

I did have a brief discussion at the just-completed regional leaders forum meeting with the shire clerk of the Eurobodalla Shire Council. He told me that his council is very determined to see the charcoal plant located within the shire, entirely as a response to the potential employment opportunities.

This is an interesting quote, as the council at first opposed the plant, and the mayor of Eurobodalla was a strong opponent. There seem to be shenanigans going on in the Eurobodalla Shire Council, extending out to other areas of government.

At the council meeting on 28 August, the minutes record that the plan is to double the facility in five years time. This is something that the current environmental impact statement has not looked into and that is not widely known within the community. What it does provide is more fear that the approval of this plant is just the thin edge of the wedge. It would be interesting to know whether the Chief Minister's conversation with the clerk of the Eurobodalla Shire Council shed some more light on the plan to double the facility in five years time.

It would seem that Premier Carr is also determined to see this project go forward, but I hope the Chief Minister's reluctance to express more strongly this community's objection to this plant is not linked to Labor Party allegiance and was merely an oversight. The Chief Minister would be wise to remember that the environment does not stop at the borders and that a one-party state does not make a democracy.

I hope that this motion is successful and that the Chief Minister submits a stronger, more detailed analysis of the environmental and social impact of the proposal and forward that to the Premier of New South Wales and the New South Wales Department of Urban Affairs and Planning forthwith.

MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming and Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Corrections) (6.08): I have to express my personal amazement at a motion that says, "We are going to now do a more detailed analysis of the environmental and social impact of the proposal on the settlements and native forests of south-east New South Wales." That is a little bit intrusive, I would have thought-just a tad.

We might be instructed by this house to write a submission, having reviewed some literature, particular cases made or whatever, but "with more detailed analysis of the environmental and social impact of the proposal on the settlements and the native forests in the South East New South Wales region"? Do you know what you are doing? Do you know what you are asking for?

This is one of the less sane moments I have been associated with in this house. I have a personal suggestion. If anybody has any good ideas for the submission, drop Jon a note based on your analysis or research in south-east New South Wales.

MS TUCKER (6.10), in reply: Mr Quinlan, you can look at the speech I have just made in this place if you want some help with the submission. But I thought you might have the capacity to do some work yourself.

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