Page 1029 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 May 2006
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mechanism for raising community awareness of potential weeds and guiding the community in the selection of more environmentally friendly species for use in gardens. In 2003 this ACT initiative was recognised by the awarding of the Landcare Australia Local Government Award.
The bush-friendly nursery scheme is a success story of note. It has been embraced by both the retail horticulture sector and their customers and demonstrates strong community interest in reducing the impact of pest plants on our natural environment. The annual weed swap program is another example of community engagement in combating weed threats.
The Pest Plants and Animals Amendment Bill will enable the ACT to work in concert with New South Wales to achieve a high standard of pest management in a collaborative way. The collaborative approach addressing pest management issues will continue to be an essential component of pest management strategies. Private and public land managers, the horticulture sectors and the broader community are all stakeholders in achieving effective and sustained pest management outcomes. The government will continue to assist these groups through information and education programs and support for the design and coordinated delivery of extension and management programs.
Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the arts, heritage and environment officers for the extensive and professional work which has culminated in this bill. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Standing order 117 (e) (ii)
Statement by Speaker
MR SPEAKER: Members, I would like to make a statement concerning the application of standing order 117 (e) (ii), which states:
Questions shall not refer to … proceedings in committee not reported to the Assembly …
This arises from correspondence from Mr Smyth on a ruling which I made about 12 months ago. The intent of the standing order is to safeguard the activities of committees by protecting the confidentiality of evidence taken—especially when taken in-camera—and the deliberations of committees, and to prevent speculation on those deliberations and possible recommendations. On occasion I have had to rule questions out of order that directly referred to evidence taken by a committee. In doing so, I have at times given the member concerned the opportunity to rephrase his or her question so as not to transgress the standing order.
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