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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 3372 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

For the information of members, I wish to advise that my office has been advised today by CountryLink that it proposes to recommence the service on Monday, 1 September at 12.15 pm, departing Kingston.

Green power

MR STANHOPE: Mr Speaker, earlier this week, I was asked a question by Ms Dundas about the level of green power used by the ACT government. Approximately 12 per cent of the ACT government's total electricity consumption is supplied by the gas generators at the Mugga Lane and West Belconnen landfill sites under a direct contract with ActewAGL.

The existing ACT greenhouse strategy, which is currently under review, states that the portion of green power supplied to government will progressively increase to 100 per cent by 2008, subject to the ability of renewable energy suppliers to provide sufficient green power to meet the government's needs. That would include departments and statutory authorities, but it would not be obligatory for territory-owned corporations as they operate as independent commercial organisations. This target is under review as part of the broader review of the ACT greenhouse strategy which is currently under way.

Earlier this week I released a discussion paper, an independent technical review, for public comment. The independent technical review of the strategy concluded that the cost-effectiveness of this target was questionable, with a potential cost in 2008 of $4 million to $8 million, depending on the level of ACT government electricity consumption at that time. Rather than paying this premium for green power, it could be more cost-effective to invest in energy efficiency measures which reduce total electricity consumption. Those are the issues on which we are looking forward to responses from the community and others in relation to the development of a revised greenhouse strategy for the ACT.

Kingston foreshore development-public housing

MR WOOD: Ms Tucker asked me yesterday about the Kingston foreshore development and whether we had had an offer from the foreshore authority. I have discussed that with staff from ACT Housing and there has been no approach by agents representing the foreshore authority wishing to sell units to ACT Housing. There might have been a discussion, but very informally, at a table at a function somewhere or other, but there has been nothing concrete, so I am told, nothing even approaching that.

Disability services

MR WOOD: Ms Tucker asked me last week about the production of a profile for people with a disability and then some questions about Therapy ACT. The Chief Minister's Department has undertaken a comprehensive review project to map ACT government-funded services for the disadvantaged. This includes services to people with a disability. Included in this project was a report commissioned of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to examine the need for and provision of services in a number of human service areas, including disability services. The AIHW report is available publicly.

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