Page 3655 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
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not necessarily at odds with the government position and can be addressed in different ways outside of this legislation.
There are, however, a number of recommendations that we have not agreed to at this time. These include permitting a larger number of plants to be grown by individuals and households; allowing artificial cultivation; increasing the amount of cannabis that an individual would be able to possess to 100 grams; and allowing group cultivation or cannabis clubs. In each case, we consider that these recommendations would go beyond the intent of these reforms, which is to minimise the harm from drugs for small individual users, and not to encourage or support sophisticated or larger scale cultivation and consumption of cannabis.
Madam Assistant Speaker, the government has very openly and consistently said that we believe that the private member’s bill is not a revolutionary change but, rather, a logical next step of the simple cannabis offence notice, SCON, scheme. In this context, the government is tabling the response to the committee’s report and recommendations that reiterates the points that we have made to date, including our submissions to the inquiry. Contained in the government response is an outline of the amendments the government will seek to move when this bill is next called on for debate in the coming sitting week.
I again thank the committee for their work, as well as the many people who appeared or made submissions. I commend the government’s response to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Renewable energy
Discussion of matter of public importance
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Cody): Madam Speaker has received letters from Ms Cheyne, Ms Cody, Mr Coe, Mr Gupta, Mrs Kikkert, Ms Lawder, Ms Le Couteur, Mr Milligan, Mr Parton and Mr Pettersson proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, the Speaker has determined that the matter proposed by Mr Gupta be submitted to the Assembly, namely:
The importance of the ACT leading the nation on the transition to 100 per cent renewable energy sources.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (3.00): I seek leave to speak on the MPI.
Leave granted.
MS BERRY: I am happy to have the chance to talk to the MPI and I thank members for granting leave to give me that chance. In May this year the ACT Legislative Assembly declared a climate emergency, the first Australian state or territory to do so. This government is nation leading when it comes to taking action on climate change
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