Page 4988 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 26 October 2010
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The government’s per capita emissions target provides individuals with a benchmark whilst being consistent with the other targets and objectives of the bill. We have serious concerns about the proposal for an energy efficiency target in the way that is proposed by Mr Rattenbury. Primarily, the reason for concern is that it basically sets a maximum amount of electricity use that someone is allowed or someone should be aiming towards achieving but takes no regard of the fuel source. It does not have regard, for example, to renewable energy use; it does not have regard to the ability to achieve energy efficiency in other sectors, such as in transporting waste, which would not be properly taken account of in a per person figure. For those reasons, the government will not support this amendment.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.31): The Liberal Party will be supporting this amendment. We have a slightly different clause in the bill which is being debated cognately. Clause 7 has related targets under the act, and one of them is to reduce by 31 December 2020 the per capita use of electricity in the ACT by at least 25 per cent.
I think there are a couple of points to make here. Firstly, energy efficiency is critical. If we are fair dinkum about getting anywhere near targets, energy efficiency will be a significant part of that. Secondly, I think it is reasonable to actually have some of our language—though not necessarily all of our language—in this area around per capita. We cannot simply ignore the fact that there is population growth forecast and that that brings with it greater challenges than if the population was going backwards—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Mr Seselja, one moment—in fact, many moments. Members, there has been a temporary failure of the technical equipment. The Assembly will suspend until the ringing of the bells while we wait for this to be fixed.
MR SESELJA: That was gold, Madam Assistant Speaker. Are you telling me my comments are not on the record?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I am sorry, members. The chair will be resumed when the bells are rung.
At 10.33 am, the sitting was suspended until the ringing of the bells.
The bells having been rung, Madam Assistant Speaker Le Couteur resumed the chair at 10.43 am.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Members, there has been a temporary failure of the technical equipment. A temporary solution is in operation. The proceedings are being recorded, but there is no sound reinforcement and no sound reticulation. Therefore, I ask the member with the call to speak up and all other members to remain silent. Until the problem is rectified, proceedings in the chamber will not be broadcast, but the Hansard record will be available. Mr Seselja, you were interrupted. I suggest you start from the beginning, because I think that your words of wisdom may have been lost for posterity.
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