Page 3101 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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accused me of plagiarism. That was a disgraceful accusation which I found I had to correct for the record.
Then it came to light in the estimates hearings that the government did not make a submission to the Senate inquiry because of legal advice the minister had received on the ACT’s water entitlements under statute. The committee recommended the government table the legal advice but the government has refused. This whole review of entitlements under the Murray-Darling Basin plan is of critical importance to the territory and its people on all fronts. It has attracted much public debate and angst. The issues continue to be surrounded by much uncertainty. For the government to withhold a vital piece of information from the Assembly and the public is contrary to the government’s new mantra of openness and transparency.
In the light of that new mantra, I again call on Mr Corbell to table the legal advice. I know it is almost certain that this call will fall on unreceptive ears. That just serves once again to underscore the real ACT Labor government—one of secrecy and opaqueness whose attitude is one of arrogance and that knowledge is power.
Next I want to make brief mention of a series of emails that I have received from residents who are concerned that conservation rangers are being retained within the TAMS portfolio rather than being moved into the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate. I touched on this yesterday, and it was also touched on in the debate on Mr Smyth’s motion about the bushfire unit. Mr Rattenbury also touched on this. Those emails note that the research and planning branch has been moved, creating something of a split in this area. The Conservation Council, one of the directorate’s community partners, said:
We are dismayed and outraged at the internal moves within TAMS that are destroying the core of nature conservation and fire management effort in the ACT, we consequently request that all responsibility for nature conservation policy, research and conservation (parks and rural lands) field management be immediately transferred to the Sustainable Development Directorate.
The respected environmentalist, Mr Geoff Butler, also made calls, saying, “Now is the time to complete the ACT Sustainable Development Directorate and ensure that all ACT environmental staff are brought within the directorate immediately.”
Once again, we have got the minister overseeing a half-baked policy. He is in charge of both directorates. It would be easy for him to take charge and ensure that the right people are housed in the right places. The estimates committee called upon the minister to do this. I do note that that recommendation was not agreed to by the government. I call on the minister to address the issues as matter of urgency. Once again, though, I suspect this call will fall on unreceptive ears.
Finally, I want to comment on the suggestion of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment for an environment levy. I have discussed this with the commissioner and have made a number of suggestions in relation to it. I know that it is a difficult issue because without adequate funding our natural environment will suffer.
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