Page 1624 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 May 2017
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The ACT government is taking responsible steps to manage our environment by reducing waste sent to landfill and through our green bin pilot program. The program has been enthusiastically embraced by residents, and the government will learn from the outcomes of the pilot for the future rollout across Canberra, as well as future strategies to reduce organic waste sent to landfill.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind Murrumbidgee residents in Weston Creek and Kambah that there is still time to apply for your own green bin and participate in the program, and join the thousands of Canberra residents who are doing the same. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra) (6.19): I have a very short speech to make in support of this motion. While waste management is not a very sexy topic, it is vital for Canberra as a sustainable and global city. As you may be aware, Madam Speaker, the rollout of green bins across Canberra was a cornerstone of my campaign and it consistently comes up in conversations with residents in my electorate of Ginninderra even now. They are very excited about the announcement. In my community survey, which was filled out by hundreds of people across the Ginninderra electorate, a household green bin and a bulky waste collection service were nominated as what would make the biggest difference to residents’ lives.
The ACT Labor government has listened to the community’s calls for green bins. We have followed through on our commitment to deliver this waste channel in our city. Labor committed to the rollout of an effective green waste collection program. We have commenced that delivery, as we promised. It is part of our dedication to delivering Canberra’s livability and contributing to a clean environment and carbon-neutral waste sector. Needless to say, I am looking forward to the extension of the program to Belconnen in mid-2018. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR WALL (Brindabella) (6.20): Noting the reluctance on the other side to speak today on the motion and in the absence of our shadow minister for urban services, Mr Doszpot, I am happy to take the mantle and speak on his behalf on the issue of green bins, which is a fond one in the Liberals’ history. I think it is important to address the premature and congratulatory motion that Mr Steel has brought here today. Mr Steel’s motion has two points which merely note the government’s policy on waste management. Mr Steel’s motion also calls on the government to continue its current policy on waste management. It is good to hear but hardly news. Mr Steel is supporting the government’s current waste policies.
Of concern, though, is Mr Steel’s claim in his motion of the success of the Weston Creek green bins pilot program. Of greater concern, though, is that having claimed the program as a success, Mr Steel calls on the government to roll out the green bin pilot across the whole city. Aside from the obvious contradiction in the idea that a citywide program would still be a pilot, the assumption that a full city rollout would necessarily follow an evaluation of the current trial simply seems to pre-empt the evaluation of the current trial.
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