Page 2558 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
range of measures, some of which would actually save us money and others that would cost us up to $65 per tonne of CO2 abated. We can contrast this with the cost of abatement in Mr Gentleman’s bill, which is at $488 a tonne.
The related targets we have set refer to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Again, the Stanhope government have committed to legislate for renewable energy use. While their targets are not as strong as those in this legislation, we hope that we can begin a conversation about a more realistic approach.
Mr Speaker, energy efficiency is one of the greatest opportunities for us to make real inroads into our greenhouse gas emissions, especially in the ACT. The great benefit of energy efficiency is that it has the added benefit of saving each of us money. As I referred to in the debate on the feed-in tariff last week, the money we spend on insulation will repay itself in about three years, and after that we will be saving money. There is an opportunity for us to take steps to ensure that, regardless of whether we are rich or poor, we have houses which are comfortable to live in—warm in winter and cool in summer—and that they do not cost the earth to run.
In February this year, the Canberra Liberals promised that in the run-up to the 18 October election we would set a range of targets to help meet the greenhouse challenge. Since February we have been considering our options and consulting with interest groups. Today we deliver on that commitment. The fact that we have delivered on that commitment does not mean that this is the end of the road. The research and thinking on climate change is developing all the time, and it is likely that we will have to change tack and revise as we go along.
What we have today, Mr Speaker, is the commitment of the Canberra Liberals to ensure that climate change is front and centre in our policy making and that it will be reflected in all aspects of what we do in the territory. Our commitment is to set and meet these targets in concert with the community in a way that ensures that our grandchildren will not have to call someone to complain about our inaction. I commend the bill to the house.
Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell) adjourned to the next sitting.
Civil Partnerships Amendment Bill 2008
Dr Foskey, pursuant to notice, presented the bill.
Title read by Clerk.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (10.46): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
This bill reintroduces provisions that the ACT government removed from its Civil Partnerships Bill in May in order to ensure that the federal government did not feel obliged to override the territory and in the process stymie the civil partnerships scheme altogether. I understand that Labor was in a difficult position.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .