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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2229 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

I certainly encourage the government to use this opportunity to set up a permanent household organic waste collection scheme.

Having said that, I will speak to Ms Dundas' amendment. I am prepared to support the second part. It is implied anyway, but it clarifies that we want to see this across Canberra. We do not have a choice. If we want no waste by 2010, then we must deal with this issue.

I will not support the first part of Ms Dundas' amendment because I am not convinced that that is what we need to do. We do need to see the government pick this up in a proactive way, but not in the way Ms Dundas has suggested here.

I am a bit concerned. Mr Wood was not enthusiastic enough about what he would do with this next. I would like to put on the record now that, if we are serious about no waste, then we must continue doing this.

The amount of garden waste that was in there is something that certainly should be examined when we are looking at the whole issue of the collection of household waste. The questions of compost bins and the capacity of people in units to use them and so on are certainly not insurmountable problems.

Education is really important. Education is fundamental to the work of government because people do not necessarily understand the impact of household green waste on landfill. They do not understand the costs of landfill or the environmental implications of having to use more land for landfill. We, as an Assembly, need to recognise that environmental education is our responsibility and that it is not something we do which is then complete. We must not think, "We have done it." It must be ongoing, because the population changes. Obviously communities change. People's awareness needs to be expanded on an ongoing basis.

I look forward to seeing clear strategies from the government as to where they will move from this point. We have had the trial and it has pointed out some issues. Let us see how we can move on, taking those concerns into account.

MS MacDONALD (11.15): The Labor Party opposes the first part of Ms Dundas' amendment.

MR SPEAKER: You are closing the debate. I hope everybody understands that, Ms MacDonald.

MS MacDONALD: Yes, I am happy to close the debate, Mr Speaker. The Labor Party is opposing the first part of the amendment, but we are happy to support the second part. The reason I say that we oppose the first part is that, to implement bio-bins across Canberra would cost in the order of $3 million. I ask Ms Dundas: if you are looking at us doing that, where would you like us to get the money from?

Ms Dundas: From tip fees!

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