Page 5249 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 18 November 2009
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what difference people think they are actually going to make. We have a clear scientific, economic and moral set of drivers that we can set a target by now. I think it is important that this entire Assembly gets on and legislates a 2020 target as soon as possible to complement the aspirational target of carbon neutrality and the 2013 peaking target.
The Greens understand that the people of Canberra have clearly indicated a strong desire to see real action on climate change. As a result of just one particular item in the ALP-Greens parliamentary agreement, we will have legislated targets by the middle of next year. I think that is an achievement we can be proud of. The Greens came to this place saying that we were determined to act on climate change. We are starting to see the fruits of that commitment coming through now with the announcements of these targets and the steps that are to come.
The targets are important because they will guide us in this city as we seek to restructure our energy use, development and transport planning right across the city. Strong legislated targets will also send a powerful signal that Canberra is the place for green energy industries and other sustainable industries to invest.
As I said earlier, we welcome the aspirational target for our city to be zero net emissions but we do need to see action. We look forward to seeing the most crucial aspect of the government’s response to the climate change committee’s recommendations for a 40 per cent target by 2020. I would urge the government to be courageous in their approach to setting this target and they can be assured of the Greens’ support if they were to agree in full to the recommendation to set the target at 40 per cent. We need to be bold, we need to think big and we do need to do what is right.
Having said that, with regard to Ms Porter’s original motion, I would like to use my last couple of minutes to comment on Mr Seselja’s proposed amendment. Let me first express a little frustration about the way this place operates. It happened on the EPIC bill as well.
There is a complete failure to actually talk about these things at times. The first I saw of Mr Seselja’s proposed amendment was about half an hour before we started this debate, despite the fact that certainly the Greens sent through our proposed amendment to Mr Seselja at lunchtime today. I think it is a very unhelpful way to proceed on such important matters. It does not set a good tone for finding political consensus on the issue that really must redefine the way we do politics, if no other issue ever does.
Whilst there are some interesting points in here, and probably some correct factual statements about the ACT Liberals setting a target in 2008, I think some of the comments are unhelpful. I think that they are simple politicking. They do little to add to Ms Porter’s motion. I acknowledge that Ms Porter’s motion was also a bit of a pat on the back for the government but we will come to that when we come to the amendments.
I am interested to note Mr Seselja’s comments about the Liberal Party setting a target. He will be pleased to note that when it comes to my amendment, I have managed to
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