Page 2476 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 13 August 2014
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But let us not pretend for a moment that the Canberra Liberals are interested in whether or not there is a single nature conservation agency, because if you rank that No 1 in the concerns you have in the portfolio of the environment, I would be very surprised that anyone else would share that view. However, if you asked them about our greenhouse gas reduction efforts, our efforts in renewable energy, our efforts in public transport, active living, trying to get people out of cars and leading to a healthier lifestyle, trying to protect the environment, trying to reduce waste to landfill perhaps, trying to promote Canberra as the solar capital of Australia perhaps—they are all issues that I would have to say would warrant at least a similar commitment from the Canberra Liberals, of which there is none.
Everyone here can see there is no environmental credential for those opposite. There is absolutely none. There is no interest in the environment. What there is interest in is trying to build up some conspiracy and some massive conflict within the government on the arrangements that are in place. And there is none. I hate to disappoint you. There is none.
Mr Smyth: Why is it so hard?
MS GALLAGHER: As I just said before, I am not convinced that we have the work done that will deliver the improvements to the people of the ACT that would require those changes at this point in time. But when I am convinced, you might be the fifth, sixth, seventh or maybe the 10th person to find out. How is that? There is my commitment. We will make sure that the media release gets straight to you, Mr Smyth.
But this is a responsibility of mine as Chief Minister. It is very clear. It will continue to remain a responsibility of mine. I will deliver on the commitments that I have signed up to. There is more work to be done. We have made an important step in the right direction with the current administrative arrangements, and I will update the Assembly by the end of this year.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (3.36): That would be the most unconvincing speech given in this place for a long time. Let us go to the last point the Chief Minister made. I interjected:
Why is it so hard?
The Chief Minister said, “Not convinced, have not got the work done yet.” They have not got the work done on capital metro, yet they committed to a $614 million light rail track from Gungahlin to Civic. Something as simple as a single conservation agency cannot go ahead.
The Chief Minister belittled Ms Lawder by saying, “Let us deal with big issues.” I would have thought better environmental outcomes would have been a big issue for the Chief Minister, but apparently not. Let us go to the agreement that the Chief Minister signed up to. What she signed up to was that she would merge the ACT’s existing conservation services into a single conservation agency to achieve better integration of biodiversity policy, planning, research and management. Surely that leads to better outcomes for the environment and surely that is something we would all welcome.
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