Page 298 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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Queensland. The main source of support that has been committed to it comes from the Queensland Labor government. Whatever contribution is being sought by the Queensland Labor government from the federal government is a matter between the Queensland and commonwealth parliaments, not a subject for debate in this chamber.
I am sure that we would not like other states and territories lecturing the ACT on decisions made here. In fact, yesterday we actually had a discussion mostly from the other side of the chamber in relation to the importance of our autonomy in relation to the euthanasia laws. We do not see that it is our place to do this. This is not a discussion about whether we oppose or support the Carmichael mine. Let me repeat that again. It is not our place to say so, Madam Speaker. Therefore the opposition will not be supporting Minister Rattenbury’s motion.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Urban Renewal) (4.25): I am pleased to address the Assembly in support of the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability’s motion today. I am excited about how progressive the ACT has been in addressing challenges in climate change, and I am pleased to see that we continue to be recognised as a national and international leader in the transition to a clean and sustainable economy. Today I would like to discuss the impacts of climate change and what effect they are having on the ACT; the work that we are doing to combat climate change, including our 100 per cent renewable electricity target; and our call for the federal government to do more on national climate policy.
A recent Climate Council report on the bushfire threat to the ACT highlights the impact of climate change—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR GENTLEMAN: I know those opposite are not interested in the impacts of climate change on the ACT but they are very important.
This report in particular tells about the challenges that we face. This 2016 report shows that recent severe fires in New South Wales and the ACT have been influenced by record hot dry conditions and that the total economic cost of these fires in the ACT and New South Wales is estimated to be approximately $100 million a year. By around the middle of the century, these costs will more than double.
Through ongoing and overwhelming support from the Canberra community, the ACT has achieved some of the most ambitious carbon emissions reduction policies of any state or region. By the year 2020, the ACT will have reduced its total emissions by 40 per cent on 1990 levels and will be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity. As spelt out in the parliamentary agreement signed between ACT Labor and the Greens, the ACT is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest and setting a firm interim target to get us there.
International consensus on action required to limit global warming was agreed at the United Nations climate conference in Paris and continued at the recent climate
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