Page 3169 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 20 August 2019
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The ongoing debate about kangaroo populations in the ACT is a regular talking point, whether from a motorist’s perspective, a farmer’s perspective or the perspective of those who believe that the kangaroo is under threat of extinction and we should be able to co-exist. Anyone who has had the misfortune to hit a kangaroo will appreciate that it is not in the kangaroo’s best interests to roam freely on highways. However, the claims about the need for ongoing fertility trials are dubious, and to suggest that the Gold Creek golf course is an appropriate enclosed space to trial contraceptive drugs would be challenged by nearby residents who too often have kangaroos in their gardens and on nearby streets.
Regarding climate change and sustainability, given the previous history of pink batts and solar panels catching fire elsewhere, we need to be vigilant, as the ACT has a high adoption rate for solar energy. In questions about this sustainability measure, Minister Rattenbury was confident that appropriate licensing arrangements were in place for sellers of solar panels. Minister Rattenbury advised that consultations are ongoing about improvements to the energy efficiency improvement scheme.
I note the minister’s enthusiasm for people to become all-electric households and to move away from gas, but there must be a cost consideration in pushing hard on one form of energy only, if this leads to cost increases and price gouging. The stories of people freezing to death because they cannot afford to heat their homes do not belong in a modern and caring society.
Ms Lee’s office has had a recent constituent complain that the most efficient hot-water systems on the market are not eligible for ActewAGL’s rebate. This does not inspire a positive image among concerned potential consumers.
Support and education for households to adopt more energy efficient systems, be they hot-water systems or reverse-cycle air conditioning, is a positive contribution from government, along with a more appropriate design for our hot summer and cold winter climate.
On the question of an all-electric ACT government fleet within three years, Ms Lawder remains somewhat sceptical that the time frame is possible. Recharging time frames are improving but we would be interested to see what evidence there is to suggest that it will be sufficiently fast to not impact on service delivery.
I am pleased that during estimates the minister confirmed that the ACT is not, in the foreseeable future, ready to abandon diesel and petrol cars from ACT roads. The minister advised that the 2025 emissions target action plan No 3 report would be published soon. He also acknowledged that there would be a cost to driving a 65 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030.
The suggestions by officials that cost savings will come about through increased active travel leading to less health expenditure and less chronic disease are tenuous. We can indeed do things better: we can have better buildings, use energy more efficiently, plant more trees and reduce waste. All these things the average family can and should be encouraged to do.
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