Page 4990 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 26 October 2010
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outlined and also, I would emphasise, because it takes account of how you can achieve emissions reductions in other sectors, in particular, transport and waste.
Those are issues that we believe should be flexible in their application. This target will basically determine a particular amount of per person use of electricity in the territory, and it will not have regard to the other factors in other sectors. Because of that, we do not feel that we can support it. I note that a majority of members do agree with it, but I put on the record the government’s concerns about the use of such methodology and such a target.
Proposed new clause 9A agreed to.
Clause 10.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (10.48): I move amendment No 5 circulated in my name [see schedule 2 at page 5087].
This amendment adds two things that the minister must take into account when making a determination on the method of counting. Firstly, the minister must specifically seek and have regard to the advice of an independent entity in setting the methodology for the counting of emissions. Secondly, the minister must ensure consistency with the best national and international practices in relation to measuring greenhouse gas emissions.
I know that these two suggestions were taken from the South Australian legislation. As a sensible addition, that would ensure some accountability on the minister. The Greens considered that it might be better to get the independent entity to just determine the methodology without having the input of the minister at all. But it seemed a better option to ensure that there is some ministerial involvement and a level of ministerial responsibility in this process.
I think it would be fair to say that it is quite possible the government might have taken this approach, but, as I have flagged in some earlier comments, I think it is valuable to be explicit about the Assembly’s expectations on the minister and also to set a standard for future years where we may be in a different period and where the minister may take a different approach. We think this amendment provides good guidance to the minister on how to undertake the task. I commend the amendment to the Assembly.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (10.49): It, indeed, was always the government’s intention to approach the issue of the reporting and auditing arrangements in this manner, and the government certainly has no objection to this amendment. It concurs with the approach the government had always intended to take.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.50): We will be supporting the amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
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