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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 96 ..
Bushfires
MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, to follow up a question from Mrs Burke during question time today, I can advise that as of 11 February, based on all data sources and validation work, PALM has assessed that there are a total of 474 totally destroyed, uninhabitable properties in both the urban and rural areas of the ACT. A further 109 properties have been assessed as having damage to the main dwelling and/or outbuildings, including garages and sheds. The status of a further 66 properties, comprising urban and rural, is being investigated and will result in some further refinement of these figures.
The variation in these figures from those originally recorded in the Canberra Times of approximately 530 results from the removal of duplicate entries in the database-for example, where two addresses and block section references were inaccurately recorded. In some cases buildings were recorded as destroyed that had had minor or no damage. This reflects the pressures placed on the various agencies involved at the height of the crisis in trying to gain an accurate picture of the damage.
Over the last three weeks all the available data has been validated by Planning and Land Management building, electrical and plumbing control inspectors. This has been a difficult process, which has been complicated by incorrect and incomplete data, further updates from the AFP, lack of access to some properties and duplication of data with minor variation of errors and the problem of identifying whether some dwellings were illegal or unapproved. So the latest status is 474 totally destroyed, 109 having damage and 66 still to be investigated further.
Convention on the Rights of the Child-report
MR STANHOPE: On 21 November Ms Dundas asked a question of Mr Corbell as Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services relating to Australia's combined second and third report under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. I have responded separately to Ms Dundas, but now I ask leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard.
Leave granted.
The document read as follows:
I am responding to a question asked of Mr Corbell because, as it is in relation to Australia's obligations under an International Treaty, it is a matter for my portfolio rather than that of the Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services. The answer is as follows:
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child entered into force for Australia in 1991 with a requirement for the submission of periodic reports on implementation of measures supporting the rights outlined in the Convention. Australia submitted its First Report to the UN in 1997. Australia's Combined Second and Third Report under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, is due in February 2003.
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