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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (6 June) . . Page.. 2032 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

The government has instituted a program of review and reform of environmental legislation. As mentioned, we will be tabling an exposure draft of heritage legislation. Also, we will be bringing forward a series of amendments to both the Nature Conservation Act and the Environment Protection Act to improve enforcement effectiveness. We also have on our agenda the development of proposals for best practice regulation of clinical waste. We will be carrying out a full review of the operation of the Environment Protection Act, including a review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Environment Protection Authority. In the longer term, we will be examining the legislation underpinning nature conservation and aspects of other legislation to improve land management and address environmental issues.

The ACT Commissioner for the Environment provides expert assessments of trends in environmental conditions and advice on how we, as a government and community, are responding to environmental issues. The state of the environment reports developed by the commissioner's office are an authoritative and independent reference for monitoring and evaluating progress towards sustainability goals. The government will continue to support the office as a valued source of independent and expert advice on environment trends and issues, and anticipates the State of the Environment Report for 2003. I will give one indication of what the budget is saying, that is, that we will see that funding is provided to do that work.

The government has a strong commitment to seeking community and expert advice on environmental matters. In particular, I place a great deal of value on the consultative processes we have in place via the advisory committee process. I have established a more focused advisory committee structure in order to deliver our environmental commitments to the ACT more effectively. The Environment Advisory Committee, as an overarching source of expert and community advice to me on environmental matters, has been replaced by two new and, may I stress to Mrs Dunne, equally powerful committees. The world does change and we refine what we do to make sure that we are keeping up with it. I think the intentions there have been somewhat misreported by the other side.

The Natural Resource Management Committee will provide advice on operational and policy matters, such as integrated catchment management, financial grants programs and management planning. The Environment Protection Technical Advisory Committee has been established to provide expert advice to the Environment Protection Authority on performance standards for environment protection, such as water quality, air pollution and noise issues. Other existing boards, authorities and committees will remain as complementary forums for expert advice and community consultation. A real forum and an annual community forum have been established and special reference groups may be established to tackle specific approaches.

There is a strong history of community support for environmental conservation in the ACT. Each year, thousands of people freely contribute untold hours of their time to the planning and management of the things that are important to our quality of life and to our natural and cultural heritage. The role of the community in protecting, maintaining and raising awareness of our environmental assets is a vital one. The way in which we work with the community will be reviewed and specific strategies will be developed to set the framework and forward agenda for education, information and volunteer support programs.

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