Page 1929 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 5 August 2014
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that will flow from this significant funding commitment. The commonwealth has set out clearly the terms of its support for that funding. In particular, the commonwealth has set out the importance of having a rigorous and robust evidence base to inform infrastructure works on the ground in terms of their location and the appropriate treatments that should be put in place to ensure that water quality in subcatchments right across the ACT—whether it is Tuggeranong, whether it is Yarralumla Creek catchment in Woden, whether it is the west Belconnen area around the proposed Riverview development, or whether it is the upper Molonglo above Lake Burley Griffin and into New South Wales.
They have said to the territory very clearly, “Gather and deliver the evidence base to inform and justify infrastructure expenditure.” And that is exactly what the ACT is now doing. We are working closely with community-based organisations, with waterwatch groups, with local community groups, to build and deliver that evidence base that the commonwealth seek.
The ACT is also putting its own money on the table. We have funding matching obligations as part of this agreement, and we propose to make sure that those are met through our own budgets. So we are determined to put this infrastructure on the ground as soon as possible. I have said that repeatedly when asked about this, whether it is in the Tuggeranong community or in other communities across the city.
There is no quick fix to the water quality issues that our city faces, but we have taken a significant step forward with this funding commitment, and we are determined to make sure it is delivered as soon as possible. If it is possible to bring forward that funding and works on the ground ahead of the time frame set out in the commonwealth agreement, we will seek to do that and we will work vigorously and proactively with the commonwealth on that matter. But these are the conditions set out by the commonwealth, set out by Senator Birmingham, as the parliamentary secretary to Minister Hunt. He is very clear about the commonwealth’s expectations in this area. We are determined to work with the commonwealth for the delivery of this very significant funding agreement.
So that is our commitment. I think all members understand that. We are going to work very proactively and very closely with communities across all the subcatchments to address and respond to these water quality issues in a very timely and effective way and in a way that delivers real, meaningful, long-term results for better water quality in our subcatchments across the city.
Asbestos—loose-fill insulation
Ministerial statement
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Higher Education and Minister for Regional Development) (10.28), by leave: Madam Speaker, I thank you and other members for their indulgence this morning. I rise to update the Assembly on the government’s response to the needs of more than 1,000 families across our community whose homes are known to be affected by Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos insulation and those of the many more who have lived in affected homes since the 1960s.
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