Page 3141 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010
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As I indicated earlier, there are big expectations on this government to deliver on the climate and sustainability agenda this financial year. I respect the government’s seeming commitment to this, but we have yet to see the proof which will be in the actual delivery of outcomes. Of course, one of the first big decisions is to decide a 2020 greenhouse target. The interim climate change committee report has already recommended setting a 40 per cent target off a 1990 base line. This is the position that the Greens have quite clearly supported.
In reflecting on the setting of greenhouse targets for the ACT, I came across some pertinent statements made by one of my colleagues here in this chamber, and I quote:
I am of a generation that does not need convincing on environmental issues … In our new Assembly we have a chance to make a real difference, to do things differently, more cooperatively and more effectively.
Mrs Dunne: I thought you’d quote me rather than Zed.
MR RATTENBURY:
… there is the technology and the intellect to meet this challenge. What we have not had to date is the will to make it happen … We have the will to do more than take a broad approach with meaningless statements, but to put clear targets on the record … Setting targets will send a message that we take this issue seriously, and we commit ourselves to a solution seriously.
Mrs Dunne has got ahead of me here and she has clearly worked out that these comments were made by Mr Seselja when he tabled the Liberal’s bill in this place at the end of 2008 that called for a 30 per cent reduction in the ACT’s greenhouse emissions by 2020. The Greens believe that is too low; we think we can do better, and the science is telling us that we must do better. But I was encouraged to reflect that the Canberra Liberals have a reasonably progressive position on a climate change target for the ACT. Now perhaps it only remains to convince the government to come to the table with a position of leadership on this. I know the Canberra community are looking for this to happen.
We have the potential as the Assembly to inspire our citizens and set a benchmark which can make them proud. Certainly a local campaign here in the ACT is calling on all of us to set a 40 per cent target. I am sure you have all become aware of the “Canberra loves 40 per cent” campaign, which is made up of a coalition of groups from right across Canberra who actually want to see action on climate change. I had the good fortune to attend the media launch for the campaign a couple of weeks ago and was impressed by the passion and thoughtfulness of those concerned Canberrans. They told me that they have had an overwhelmingly positive response from the people they have been meeting at shopping centres and doorknocking, and that there is a great sense of the opportunity that setting a strong greenhouse target here in the ACT presents to us.
I personally hope that we, as legislators, do not let these people down. My sense is that governments and parliaments are often the slowest to act and that the community are losing patience with us on that front. When we say we care, they want to see that
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