Page 4266 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 24 October 2017

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This, of course, is the flaw in the position that Ms Lawder has adopted today. We do have a responsibility to ensure adequate protection against bushfire. That is something I have sought to do through this legislation. Of course, as I have outlined, I have been very mindful of ensuring adequate protection so that we do not see unnecessary pruning of trees, but the bottom line is that we do need to prune some trees around powerlines for electrical safety.

This does not come for free. The position Ms Lawder has adopted on behalf of the Liberal Party ignores that fact. These services need to be paid for. We have sought to minimise the cost of them. To come in here and say, “We support bushfire protection but we don’t want to pay for it,” is, I think, a very disingenuous position.

Mr Coe: How does it get paid for now?

MR RATTENBURY: I have been quite open about the facts. Ms Lawder made this observation herself in her own speech. At the moment this work is not considered to be done to an adequate standard. That has been identified in the strategic bushfire management plan, which is why we are moving to amend the act. This will increase the provision of services and that provision comes at a cost.

I invite the Liberal Party to reconsider their position. I think it is a flawed position. To increase bushfire safety in the ACT in accordance with the strategic bushfire management plan does require additional services to be undertaken. That is what has to be paid for and that is why there is this $9 or $10 a year cost that we have anticipated will come with these legislative changes.

Question put:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted—

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

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