Page 3129 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 24 September 2014
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The facts are that we are seeing a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for our city overall, but it has always been the case that the largest amount of electricity used in the ACT economy has been in the commercial office sector. That is why it is so important that we take the steps we are taking today to decarbonise our electricity supply. If we want to meet our greenhouse gas reduction target then we need to shift to a renewable energy future.
Just today it became clear to me that other cities around the world, and indeed other cities in our region, are taking similar steps. The Auckland City Council, for example—the largest city administration in New Zealand, with a population of over one million people—has set a 40 per cent greenhouse gas reduction based on a 1990 base year to be achieved by 2040. That is a less ambitious target than the ACT’s, but it is still a very strong carbon reduction target, and one which they have set out will be achieved in particular through a transition to renewable energy and improved energy efficiency.
The ACT is not going it alone here. The only people who are going it alone are those opposite who fail to recognise the need to make that transition to a renewable energy future and to an energy efficiency future.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
MS LAWDER: Minister, why did electricity usage sourced from renewable energy decrease in the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate last year, according to the department’s 2012-13 annual report?
MR CORBELL: The reason for that is consistent with the government’s decisions across all government administrations to reduce our purchase of green power product and increase our expenditure on energy efficiency. What you will also see in that annual report from the Environment and Planning Directorate is that the Environment and Planning Directorate has dramatically reduced its overall energy consumption as a result of shifting taxpayer dollars from purchase of green power to energy efficiency. Of course, the most efficient steps we can take and the lowest cost we can have is in energy efficiency. That is why the government is redirecting that power purchase. Overall, we are increasing the level of green energy in the ACT electricity grid through the large-scale feed-in tariff schemes. That is decarbonising our electricity supply. But at the same time we are investing—
Opposition members interjecting—
Ms Berry: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Stop the clock. A point of order, Ms Berry.
Ms Berry: The people on the other side of the chamber have been referring to the minister in a way that is unparliamentary and I ask that they withdraw.
Mr Coe: I seek your ruling as to whether “decarbonising” is out of order.
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