Page 3207 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 18 August 2009
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Indeed we do. And that is why this government is moving ahead with plans for a 30-megawatt minimum solar power facility for the ACT. It is why this government is moving ahead with energy efficiency programs in our homes, in our commercial buildings. That is the record and that is the program of this government.
But the question has to be asked: can the Liberal Party be trusted on climate change policies, because they say one thing and they do another? They say they support progressive policies, they say that the feed-in tariff is a good start and then they walk away from it. Why did they walk away from it? Why are they going to jeopardise Canberra’s reputation as the emerging solar capital of the country? Why are they going to jeopardise the significant interest Canberra is getting from renewable energy companies around the country because we have a gross feed-in tariff?
Go and talk to the Clean Energy Council. Go and talk to all of those large multinational companies that are part of the Clean Energy Council and ask them whether they think the gross feed-in tariff is a good thing for Canberra and positions Canberra as a city for the future. And they will say, overwhelmingly, yes, it is; it is good for green jobs; it is good for green investment; it is good for the sustainable development of this city.
The only person in this place who seems to think it is not good is Mr Seselja, because Mr Seselja says one thing and he does another. He says he is for the environment; he says he is for renewable energy. But, when the going gets a little bit tough or he thinks there is a little bit of political opportunism in it, bang, he is away; he is not serious about backing climate change policies because if he were he would be standing up to those in his party who do not like the idea of a feed-in tariff, who do not support progressive policy; and he would be telling them this is the right way for the city to go.
Labor will be maintaining its peak commitment to the feed-in tariff and to policies that establish a renewable energy future for our city.
Recycling—Aussie Junk
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services and concerns the former re-usables contract to Aussie Junk. What is the situation with respect to the stock which used to belong to Aussie Junk? Are the liquidators sending the stock to landfill, has the government acquired it, or what has happened to it?
MR STANHOPE: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. I will have to take advice on that. Suffice to say, however, Ms Le Couteur, that my understanding, and the direction that I will provide to Territory and Municipal Services in relation to recyclable or re-usable goods in this hiatus between the demise of Aussie Junk as a provider and the introduction of new arrangements, is that no re-usable or recyclable materials will be disposed of in landfill. That is my position; that is my expectation. I have no reason to believe that, in relation to the transition from Aussie Junk to other arrangements, any re-usable or recyclable goods will be disposed of in landfill. That is my requirement of the department, and I have no doubt that that is a requirement that has been relayed to Thiess.
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