Page 4843 - Week 11 - Thursday, 21 October 2010
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the case, I also remind members that in debating order of the day No 1, executive business, they may also address their remarks to order of the day No 2, private members’ business.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella) (11.11): I thank Ms Bresnan for allowing me to jump to my feet first. The ACT government is determined that the ACT set itself up to be a dynamic and sustainable economy and society for the future. To do this effectively, we need to be actively responding to the changes that climate change considerations are driving at the social, economic and environmental frontiers of development. Importantly, the ACT is well placed to show leadership at the local and regional level.
In November 2009 the ACT government set a clear policy direction when it announced a target of achieving a carbon neutral ACT by 2060. By legislating the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets proposed in the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bill, the ACT government is setting a clear path for achieving the aim of zero net emissions and providing further security for investment in technologies and industries that can uphold a clean economy and a sustainable future for the ACT.
Our proposed targets are ambitious but they have the strong support of the ACT community—both the residential and the business sectors. We know that the ACT’s key sources of emissions are stationary energy and transport. Both these sectors have been the focus of key mitigation policies. Through initiatives under the government’s climate change strategy, weathering the change—the ACT climate change strategy for 2007-2025, action plan No 1 and the sustainable transport plan, the government has already embarked on reform in these sectors.
The government has had some big wins that are worth noting here. They include the country’s most advanced feed-in tariff, transport infrastructure to support modal shifts to sustainable transport options including increased uptake of public transport, cycling and walking, which continue to be rolled out, not to mention the ongoing programs focused on households, schools and businesses that are changing behaviours.
I would like to expand on some of those successes, starting with the feed-in tariff. Since its launch in March 2009 it has laid the groundwork for Canberra becoming the solar capital of Australia. Since commencing it has contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 3,000 tonnes. There has been a 520 per cent increase in householders with solar PV installation since March 2009.
It has been welcomed by industry and businesses, thanks to the increased demand for professional skills, products and knowledge. To build on this success the government, following consultation though, recently announced a proposal to expand the scheme. Under the new arrangements, the existing capacity limit will form the micro category, with a cap of 15 megawatts. There is a new medium category for installations between 30 kilowatts and 200 kilowatts, with a total cap also of 15 megawatts.
In addition, there will be a large category for installations of more than 200 kilowatts and capped at 210 megawatts. This is the first time an Australian feed-in tariff has
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