Page 257 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 7 March 2007
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states and territories have tried to progress work through an interjurisdictional working group, but that stalled when constitutional barriers were encountered from the commonwealth. However, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and now New South Wales have established, or are currently in the process of establishing, their own jurisdictional targets. Most of these jurisdictions are yet to define how they will go about overcoming the constitutional barrier.
Victoria has set a 10 per cent renewable target by 2016; the South Australian bill proposes a renewable target of 20 per cent; Western Australia is currently debating a bill to mandate 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020. The renewable energy target just announced by New South Wales is 10 per cent of end-use consumption by 2010 and 15 per cent by 2020. These targets would apply to all electricity consumed in New South Wales, which should provide impetus to renewable energy certificate trading and penalties for non-compliance. However, as the New South Wales scheme has just been announced, details of the scheme have not yet been fully analysed.
The ACT and New South Wales GGAS scheme is already in place and has a trading scheme designed to lower emissions through increased purchasing by retailers. It is acknowledged as a very successful measure.
The other issues raised in the motion go to ensuring the incorporation of a 60 per cent reduction by 2015. I have addressed that particular issue. It was the subject of the government’s discussion paper. It was supported through the community consultation and feedback and is an issue and a target which will be considered by cabinet in the near future.
The motion also proposes the establishment of the ACT as a centre of sustainable industries and a model for Australia and the rest of the world in sustainable urban planning and management. My colleague the Minister for Planning, in his address to this motion, will address that particular issue in detail. I will not go to it, other than to say that I believe that some of the leadership shown in planning through ACTPLA and by the minister has us on the road to achieving those aims or aspirations.
Let me conclude by saying that the ACT government is absolutely committed to this. I acknowledge this issue of climate change as one of the most significant issues facing this and every community and every individual in Australia. I will pursue the issue personally over the course of the coming years. (Time expired.)
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (11.23): I welcome the opportunity to speak to this motion. It touches on a number of critical issues. At the same time, we need to be reasonable about the issues. It is actions, not words, that will count in this debate. As the Chief Minister just said, it is a most significant issue. But it is a significant issue that the government has ignored for virtually the life of this government. You cannot blame Minister Hargreaves; he has just been lumbered with the portfolio after four years of nothing occurring.
It really is actions, not words, in this debate. Look at the actions of the government. They have gutted the Office of Sustainability. The NOWaste by 2010 strategy is now being called the no action by 2010 strategy because nothing is happening. We see a government that, for five years after coming to office, has not been able to put
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