Page 560 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 21 February 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
chemical fertilisers and the ability to reclaim degraded land, reduce soil erosion and improve food production by maintaining nutrient levels in soils.
While I do not wish to be characterised in any way as giving business advice, I do note that the ACT seems to have an increasing business in terms of business-level composting of food waste. This might be something that could be considered by some other businesses. Many Canberrans who live in houses often compost their food waste and it does not go to landfill, but there are increasing numbers of people living in high-density housing and there is an increasing amount of food waste ending up in landfill.
With the rollout of green bins already underway, much of the infrastructure to undertake food waste collection is already in place. Food waste could simply be added to the allowed waste in the green bins. Many other parts of Australia have included food waste as part of their green bin rollout, and we can too. What would be required is additional facilities for composting or anaerobic digestion once the food organics are collected. The Greens have been pushing for food organics to be dealt with as the government moves from its waste feasibility study process, and I hope to see plans for food organics infrastructure in the waste feasibility study report, which the government has promised to release shortly.
In conclusion, while I will be supporting the government’s amendment, I remind the government to be mindful about the impacts on small business of future announcements of this type and to be conscious of the impact this has made on a small number of small businesses. They are still important. Changes that impact on small business need consultation, transitional arrangements and sufficient lead-in times so that small businesses have time to adjust. I am also calling for more work on food organics, which can and should be removed from the waste stream as soon as possible.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (6.30): I am appalled at the performance of the government members, including the Greens members, in this debate. The way in which the minister has palmed off this issue with this amendment which was delivered at the eleventh hour—I note the minister’s apology, that she was sick, but she is not the only person in her office and no-one deigned to consult Mr Wall about this, and it was only circulated while he was speaking—quite frankly is getting to the stage where it is unforgivable. It is becoming a regular habit in this place that amendments are circulated while the mover of the motion is speaking. It is disrespectful. The disrespect continues in this amendment. This amendment basically neuters Mr Wall’s motion.
Mr Wall came in here—and he said it himself—and put down his speech notes. He spoke from the heart about the pain, the suffering and the anxiety that small business people are facing in this city. This is pain, suffering, anxiety and financial loss which is directly a result of a government decision. This government does not care. In the past, when he has been asked, “What about when this decision impacts on small business? What are you doing about that?” I have heard the Chief Minister say, “I’m not in the business of keeping small business in business.” He said it in relation to the
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video