Page 5122 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018
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The brush-tailed rock-wallaby is emblematic by the fact that it has managed to survive in the ACT while unfortunately so many other species have become extinct over the past 150 years. Of the 15 species of rock wallaby in Australia most have disappeared from their original range and are now considered threatened.
Sadly, the brush-tailed rock-wallaby no longer exists in the wild in the ACT. It only became locally extinct in our region in the wild around 20 years ago after being declared endangered in the ACT in 1996. Nationally its status is vulnerable. Once it was widespread and common in the mountainous country of south-eastern Australia, from southern Queensland to the Grampians in Victoria, but unfortunately the rock wallaby’s natural range has been reduced to the north-eastern part of that area.
If you are lucky you might see captive animals in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. I am pleased that the ACT government is running a captive breeding program that will hopefully lead to its eventual reintroduction to ACT and interstate reserves.
While I am very happy to join in the universal celebration that the brush-tailed rock-wallaby has been chosen as our mammal emblem, I hope it is not too long in the future that we are celebrating its reintroduction to the wild in our region. I also wish Brian the Bettong and fellow bettongs happy lifetimes and best wishes in their continuing endeavours in the ACT.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
City Renewal Authority and Suburban Land Agency Amendment Bill 2018
Debate resumed from 30 October 2018, on motion by Ms Berry:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (4.06): The opposition will be supporting this bill. The haste with which the government brought this legislation on in May of last year has meant a few inconsistencies or anomalies in the legislation, such as transferring all the assets from the LDA through to the relevant authority or agency. As such, we welcome this correction.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (4.06): The Greens are also happy to support the minor amendments to the legislation to allow the public service to deliver its operations. The Green’s test for legislation is whether it impacts on our key values in areas such as social justice and environmental protection. Of course, we are satisfied this bill does not have any of that sort of impact.
I note the report of the scrutiny committee that said the committee notes that the effect of the bill may have been achieved through the issue of instruments under the Financial Management Act and commends the minister on the use of amending legislation to ensure transparency and certainty of any transfer. I will join the scrutiny committee in commending the minister for that act of transparency and support the bill.
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