Page 596 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 9 March 2011
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Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: I am. If it will assist those to understand the very significant challenges facing governments all around Australia, if it will assist those to understand those issues, I will look at what information I can make available. As I said, some of those decisions are yet to be taken. I will look to see what I can provide to members of the opposition to reduce their cynicism and their political opportunism, riding on the wave of a fear campaign started by their federal leader.
MS BRESNAN: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, will the government commit to increasing the energy concession rebate to replicate the rise in electricity prices over the past six years?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Ms Bresnan for the question. It is certainly a matter that budget cabinet is considering at this point in time. But the budget will be brought down in early May, and our decisions on that day will be clear.
Energy—policy
MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for Energy. Minister, public submissions for the draft sustainable energy policy closed in March 2010. Last October in this chamber, you stated:
The energy policy will be finalised later this year. Action plan 2 will be released in the first half of next year. It will outline the detailed measures that the government proposes to adopt to ensure that we are on the path to achieving the significant greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Minister, when will the government’s sustainable energy policy be released and what are the reasons for it being delayed?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Hunter for the question. The government has taken the decision to defer the release of the energy policy to allow it to coincide with the release of the draft of action plan 2 of weathering the change. The two documents are closely related and have policy issues that overlap. For that reason, the government intends to release both of those documents in the first half of this year.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, a supplementary question?
MS HUNTER: Minister, what will be the impact of the delay in releasing the policy on achieving the ACT’s greenhouse gas reduction targets of 40 per cent by 2020?
MR CORBELL: There is no impact. Obviously it is desirable to have these measures in place as soon as possible. But, given that the government has already indicated what its time frame was for action plan 2, which is the important document that guides the government in relation to its response on greenhouse gas reduction
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