Page 5240 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 18 November 2009

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plan 1 provided a solid foundation by building awareness and placing us in a strong position to move forward in the next stage in our journey to carbon neutrality. I will highlight some of the government’s achievements to date.

Firstly, the ACT government introduced a greenhouse gas reduction scheme in conjunction with New South Wales on 1 January 2005. Electricity use is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT. Targeting electricity production and consumption is a key step to achieving ACT greenhouse gas reductions. The greenhouse gas reduction scheme requires retailers of electricity in the ACT to reduce or offset their total greenhouse gas emissions. They do this by purchasing cleaner energy or undertaking energy efficient activities. In 2008, the scheme achieved 679,853 tonnes of emission abatement. The scheme has avoided 1,606,618 tonnes of emissions since its inception in 2005.

Secondly, the ACT has been using government buildings to highlight innovative renewable technologies to help the community understand the potential for cleaner generation and to encourage other building owners to follow suit. In late 2008, 19 solar panels were installed on the roof of Tidbinbilla visitors centre. This array will generate approximately 7MWh of clean electricity in the grid every year and be responsible for mitigating eight tonnes of carbon dioxide that will have been emitted. A larger installation will be operational by Christmas at Canberra Stadium.

Thirdly, since April 2001, all ACT electricity retailers have been required to offer GreenPower to each new or reconnecting customer. This action has contributed to an increased take-up of GreenPower. As President Obama said, each of us must do what we can.

MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (5.24): I thank Ms Porter for bringing this motion forward today. It is a very important issue and one worthy of the Assembly’s time. We certainly support the first part of Ms Porter’s motion, but I move:

Omit all words after paragraph (1)(b), substitute:

“(2) notes the leadership of the Canberra Liberals in climate change particularly that:

(a) in 1997 the ACT became the first government in Australia to sign up to targets for greenhouse gas reduction of 1990 levels by 2008 and a 20% reduction on those levels by 2018;

(b) the Canberra Liberal Government set about a project of quantifying the ACT’s emissions and developing strategies for reduction;

(d) the home insulation policy, the Solar Canberra policy and related election policies further support a commitment to addressing climate change;

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