Page 4664 - Week 12 - Thursday, 1 November 2018
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they have responsibility for and make adjustments around negative gearing and capital gains.
If the Liberal Party, the Canberra Liberals, were really after making sure that affordable homes were available here in the ACT, then they would back the ACT government and get behind the campaign for the federal government to pull the tax levers that they have responsibility for.
In addition to that, one of the other issues around affordability in the ACT is not in the ACT government’s control. It is around wages and I am very happy to see the federal Labor Party commit to improving and increasing Newstart, which this government and our Chief Minister have called for consistently, and will return penalty rates to the lowest paid workers in the ACT so that they can afford to have a decent crack at happiness, which is more than I can say for the Canberra Liberals.
Ginninderry—conservation
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability: in answer to a question about whether you had been consulted on the impacts of the Ginninderry development on three endangered or vulnerable animals you replied, “No, not formally.” The endangered or vulnerable animals involved include the little eagle, the golden sun moth and the pink-tailed worm-lizard. However, you replied to a supplementary question saying that you had been involved in “active discussions” about the decision as to whether gas would be available for the development. Does that mean that you did not discharge your duties as sustainability minister in ensuring that this development would not have an adverse impact on the three endangered or vulnerable animals?
MR RATTENBURY: As Mrs Kikkert could observe from the administrative arrangements, I do not have formal responsibility, as the minister for sustainability, for the endangered species act in the ACT. Whilst I have a significant personal interest in those issues, they do not formally sit within my ministerial portfolios.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, did your informal discussions include seeking the views of conservation groups and/or local community groups and did they support an exemption from an EIS process?
MR RATTENBURY: I have spoken to a number of different people who have an interest in Ginninderry. I think it is fair to reflect, as one can easily see from the public record, that there is a range of views on this matter, including different views amongst some of the environmental or conservation groups in the ACT, on the exact question that Mrs Kikkert is asking about.
MS LEE: Minister, do you ever pass on some of those concerns raised by the environmental and community groups to the minister for the environment? If so, when? If not, why not?
MR RATTENBURY: Yes; I have discussed these matters with the minister for the environment.
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