Page 669 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 February 2010
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We know a number of things in relation to the ACT government. We know that ACT government representatives were at the infamous meeting in April last year when warnings, serious warnings, were given to the commonwealth about the potential dangers that would flow from this scheme. It would be interesting if the minister could enlighten us, because we have not had much information from the minister on this or any other issue in relation to it, about whether or not the way it has been reported is accurate.
Apparently, as reported, the commonwealth were told that not just were there potential problems, which clearly they were being advised of in a number of forums, but that the way it was being rolled out, the speed with which it was being rolled out, would make it virtually impossible to regulate, which essentially was saying to the commonwealth, “If you do it like this, there are almost inevitable negative consequences”—not just a “maybe”. It is not just “there might be some issues on the side”; it is “if you do it as you are proposing to do it, it will be virtually impossible to regulate”.
That meeting has great significance, not just for the federal environment minister but for what he was warned. But if there was a view within the ACT government and other state and territory governments that that was indeed the case, that, because of the nature, the speed and the way in which this program was being rolled out, it would be virtually impossible to regulate and that therefore all of the issues flow on from that, if that is indeed the case, the question does arise, the serious question for us as an Assembly to ask and have answered, is: “If it was good enough for the ACT government and other governments to warn the federal minister, to warn the federal environment department, why wasn’t it good enough for the people of the ACT to also receive those warnings?”
This is a critical question that we will be seeking to get to the bottom of through this debate, through seeking documents from the minister, through asking questions of the minister. Were those warnings given? Are those reports accurate? I have not heard them disputed at this point by anyone in authority. It has been reported and has been repeated in a number of forums about what when on at that April meeting. But if that is true, if that is indeed the case, where were the warnings?
Mr Corbell a couple of weeks ago in this place talked about some warnings. He said that ACTPLA gave some advice, I think, to the industry and that there was notice of a complaint. I think some time down the track, in about November, we had indeed a more serious warning. But I think in November we had already seen deaths. In November things were already starting to get out of control.
So there is a fundamental question for the ACT government and the minister to answer on this. What happened at that April meeting? Are those reports accurate? And if indeed those kinds of warnings were being given to the federal government then why were they not given to the community? That was one of the most serious warnings. It was being told: “It is unsafe. There is no way you can actually make it safe.”
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