Page 4051 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
in the legislation, to deliver emissions savings in their sectors of the economy. In this regard, we have built on the experience of other jurisdictions, in particular, the South Australian government. Its legislation has already seen success in a whole range of sectoral agreements to drive change across the economy.
Our targets are challenging, but they are also achievable. They are ambitious, but they are achievable. The reports that I have outlined publicly and my comments earlier today, which have been placed on the department’s website and made public today, indicate the analysis we have undertaken, the scope for action and the opportunities that that presents.
There are real opportunities in making the transition to a low carbon economy that can create jobs, that can create economic activity and that can place our city as an early adopter of new technologies and of new approaches to attacking climate change. These will be skills, experience and economic opportunities that we can pursue not only here in the city but outside of the city. So Canberra has an opportunity with this legislation and, following consultation with the community, action plan 2 will outline the key steps and measures we will undertake to move towards implementation of these targets.
MS PORTER: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, what has been the response of the community to the announcements today about the emissions targets?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Porter for the question. The reaction today has been a very positive one. Indeed, at lunchtime today we have seen the reaction from a wide range of people who have a strong interest in this issue. They are supportive of this. But let us recognise—
Mr Hanson: A wide range of people? How wide ranging are they really?
MR CORBELL: I know that the climate sceptics over in the Liberal Party are very dismissive of this target. They do not take this issue seriously. They do not see it as a major issue for our community. Tens of thousands of people in this community do. Tens of thousands of people in this community want to see a government that signs up to targets, that will make a difference, that will position us towards being a low carbon economy. This Labor government is proud to have adopted those targets. We are proud to have adopted those targets; we are proud to demonstrate leadership; and we will continue to demonstrate leadership as we roll out the suite of policies and programs needed to follow through on this commitment.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, can you outline some of the costs and benefits of a 40 per cent target and how will the government assess these?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video