Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5278 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

the community to identify the best option for government consideration. Work will then proceed to plan for the construction of a preferred supply should it prove to be needed.

The ACT government also recognises the ACT's role and responsibility across our borders and nationally. As the largest urban centre in the Murray Darling Basin, the ACT accepts its responsibility to contribute to improving the health of the river system despite the sound practices it already has in place. In line with other jurisdictions' commitment, my government has agreed to allocate $5 million over the next five years of new funding to improve water resources management in the territory. These funds will support the implementation of the water resources strategy and, in particular, they will support improved catchment management practices and arrangements, improving the efficiency of water use, increasing the use of treated effluent, implementing water sensitive urban design, and continuing to improve the provision of environmental flows through improvements in their delivery and the science upon which they are based. Through these measures the ACT will continue to reduce the impact that we in Canberra have on the basin.

Further, the government is committed to taking a lead role in the development of a water supply strategy for the region. The development of the regional water supply strategy is seen as a priority and work has already commenced. The regional water supply strategy will deal with how we share our water resources across the border. It will be based on sustainability principles and best practice approaches to water quality protection, provision of environmental flows and demand management.

The greenhouse issue has also moved beyond discussion of whether the climate is changing to examining what can be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to limit the impacts of the change. It is presently estimated that approximately four million tonnes of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere every year are directly attributable to the ACT. These gases are less than one per cent of the total Australian emissions. Although the ACT is only a very small contributor to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, we have a responsibility as the nation's capital to show leadership in reducing our share of the country's emissions. In fact, there are economic and social benefits for our community in making more efficient use of energy in our homes and businesses and having more efficient transport systems.

The government recognises that it has a special responsibility to provide guidance, assistance and leadership in greenhouse matters. But management of greenhouse gas emissions is everyone's business. Business, transport and residential sectors all have a role to play. Particular responsibility lies with the Commonwealth government to show national leadership in the area of international agreements such as the Kyoto protocol, in national financial and policy initiatives and in ensuring that its own operations achieve best practice standards and produce the required results. If the Commonwealth government does not perform, ACT goals will be that much more difficult to achieve. Commonwealth tardiness in recognising the role it has to play nationally impacts on the ACT's ability to achieve a comprehensive and strategic approach to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

However, the government accepts the challenge and has a significant program in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT. A range of education and incentive programs have been introduced to promote efficient energy use in the domestic and

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .