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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (2 April) . . Page.. 1235 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

I am extremely pleased with the way our business community has embraced the concept of sustainability. The business council is certainly a very strong partner in the sustainability agenda which this government is leading.

I am aware that some within the business community are taking the initiative and developing their own proposals to pursue sustainability. This type of community support is essential for the pursuit of sustainability. As we make clear in our policy, the government accepts its leadership role but we recognise that we cannot pursue sustainability alone. It is the responsibility of all Canberrans.

I am proud of the substantial progress we have made on sustainability in a short time. The policy articulates the commitments we make and the principles we use to lead the transition to sustainability in the ACT. As a guide to decision-making, it will have a powerful influence over future actions of government agencies and will have a flow-on effect to the private and non-government sectors.

The development of indicators and the preparation of the ACT report on sustainability are, of course, priorities for the office of sustainability and indeed are the next major challenge the office and the government face. The process of change has started. Sustainability will underpin the development of the Canberra Plan-our strategic blueprint for Canberra's future which, as you know, includes the spatial plan, the social plan and the economic white paper.

As part of a sustainable transport system, the government has initiated a range of sustainability-focused initiatives. Similarly, as members know, we have committed to the development of a major-and the first ever-strategy in relation to water. Water, of course, along with transport, is an issue which presents major sustainability challenges for this community.

Bushfires

MR PRATT: Chief Minister, in response to a question from Ms Tucker on 18 February about whether submissions to the McLeod inquiry would be made public, you stated:

Chief Minister, what has happened that all submissions will not be made public-all, including ones from government agencies?

MR STANHOPE: It is with some weariness but predictability, I guess, that this matter has arisen again today, given the determination of the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Party to undermine the McLeod inquiry into the operational aspects of the January bushfires, the penchant for attacking dedicated individuals involved in the bushfire and the bushfire processes. We know already that the Liberal Party is determined to sack, through Mrs Dunne's legislation, Sandy Hollway, Robert de Castella and Terry Snow.

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