Page 4588 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 19 October 2010
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All of this shows that it can be small and practical steps, school by school, suburb by suburb, in this city that will make a difference. The ACT government has allocated $2 million to install solar generation systems at ACT public schools. I was very pleased to be able to open the pilot project at Evatt primary school and to see Kingsford Smith school solar systems installed, in addition to those already in place at Theodore and Gordon primary schools, under the BER.
Further solar systems will be installed in conjunction with the federal government’s national solar schools program. We also have a $2 million program to install rainwater tanks in all ACT public schools. The Department of Education and Training has recruited a landscape architect, who is preparing landscape designs for all ACT public schools over the next 12 to 18 months. These designs will help improve the image and amenity of our schools, but they will also, importantly, contribute to drought-proofing the landscapes, improving passive cooling, capturing water and integrating indoor and outdoor spaces and learning environments for students. These are all important local, practical measures.
In conclusion, there is no avoiding the fact that climate change changes everything. We will see this in the built form of our city and in the lifestyle of those who live in Canberra in coming decades. In my view, it presents challenges, changes, but, most importantly, opportunities in every part of life in this city. The future will be based on market-based solutions. We need to be up-front about pricing externalities. As an economic rationalist—and perhaps one of the few—
Mrs Dunne: The only one in the village.
MR BARR: And maybe the only one in the village, as I am often told, I think there are compelling rational, economic reasons for supporting this legislation. It is about putting in place market-based solutions. It is about transforming this city and this economy. It might be that what is Australia’s largest regional subsidy program, the city of Canberra, could finally come of age economically. We might finally be able to see a city where employment is more than just the public sector, and where there are new industries and new opportunities. This is an important reform for our city. (Time expired.)
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 12.26 to 2 pm.
Ministerial arrangements
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Health and Minister for Industrial Relations): As members would be aware, the Chief Minister is away for this sitting period. For the next two weeks question time, I will take questions relating to the Chief Minister’s portfolio, LAPS, the arts and heritage; my colleague Minister Corbell will take questions relating to TAMS and Indigenous affairs.
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