Page 1161 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2009
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sustainable office management was positive about the role of that network, but the report also suggested that the commonwealth environment department could take a more active leadership and coordination role in promoting sustainable practices in the commonwealth.
We suggest that the ACT government also consider taking a lead in an equivalent state and territory network. We also suggest that the ACT government consider whether the energy efficiency fund can or should support the installation of video conferencing facilities in selected ACT government agencies to save direct and indirect environmental costs of public sector travel. The Assembly may be aware that the commonwealth recently announced public sector travel cutbacks and greater use of video conferencing facilities.
On other local environmental issues, the committee recommends that the Environment Protection Authority monitor air quality in residential areas close to burn-out events at the Summernats Car Festival and make that information publicly available.
The committee thanks the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, Mr Simon Corbell MLA, the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Maxine Cooper, and departmental and agency officers for their assistance in the inquiry and for providing their time and expertise as witnesses at public hearings.
The committee also thanks the Chief Executive of the Canberra Institute of Technology, Dr Colin Adrian, and CIT staff for hosting the committee’s visit on 18 March 2009. I plan to report to the Assembly on behalf of the committee about that visit later in the week.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Workers Compensation (Terrorism) Amendment Bill 2009
Debate resumed from 26 February 2009, on motion by Mr Hargreaves:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (10.36): Mr Speaker, the opposition will support this bill, which will extend the sunset clause for coverage of workers impacted by acts of terrorism. After the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, it became difficult or impossible for employers to get workers compensation insurance to cover employees in cases involving acts of terrorism. If they could get cover, it was prohibitively expensive. To fill the gap, a reinsurance fund was established under an amendment in 2002 to the Workers Compensation Act 1951. The effect, quoting from the then minister’s tabling speech, was:
… to have the territory stand as a reinsurer in case of an act of terror.
As such, the ACT government would fund, through either an appropriation or borrowing, the entitlements of workers injured as a result of an act of terrorism and
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