Page 1544 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2007
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course, I would like to be involved in it. I am not on the planning and environment committee. I can sit down and write a submission to the committee, but I do not have the time. This is an area in which I have expertise and a great deal of interest. I am very sorry that the government, by its amendment, does not support my proposal, and Mr Corbell is going to tell me why.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (11.08): I seek leave to move amendments Nos 1 and 2 circulated in my name together.
Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: I move amendments Nos 1 and 2 together.
(1) paragraph (1), omit the words “resolves to establish a Select Committee on Water Use to consider”, substitute “resolves that the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment inquire into”; and
(2) paragraph (2), omit the paragraph.
The government will be supporting the proposal by Dr Foskey to establish an Assembly inquiry into these matters. The government will also be supporting the terms of reference. We believe that they are comprehensive, are adequate and are the issues that an Assembly investigation should consider.
The amendments that I have just circulated in my name propose that, instead of a select committee being established, the existing Standing Committee on Planning and Environment conduct this inquiry. The reason for that is that the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment is a committee which has these matters directly within its existing terms of reference. And, as I understand it, the committee stands ready to do this very important body of work.
Obviously, the committee already has a level of understanding and knowledge in this area from the work it has undertaken—for example, in looking into issues around the biosphere proposal, and also through its understanding of urban water use and planning issues from its work dealing with the ACT Planning and Land Authority. I understand that the committee has looked at issues around water-sensitive urban design and a range of other issues which will stand it in good stead in undertaking this important body of work.
The government believes that an Assembly inquiry will be of assistance in establishing a strong knowledge base—not only for the government as a whole but also for the Assembly and the broader community—on the issues that need to be legitimately addressed when it comes to the development of future water policy and water supply options for the ACT.
We face quite a serious situation. I think that the impending imposition of stage 4 restrictions will, more dramatically than at any other time since the current drought commenced, bring home to the community the social as well as the economic and environmental impacts of reductions in water supply. Our sporting groups and our
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