Page 3662 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
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down there. Other politicians will want to go down there for the photo opportunity. We have heard that; no doubt we will see the Labor Party and the Greens politicians down there, getting their photo op and using children in many ways for their own political objectives and, as we know, in many cases, whipping up fear and concern amongst those children.
In reality, in this jurisdiction, through the combined efforts of both Liberal Party and Labor Party governments, we have the most ambitious targets, both for renewables and for carbon emission reduction, in Australia.
This group opposite are never as happy as when they are outraged. They will take up any level of outrage; they will come in to this place and accuse others, smear, and, as Mr Gentleman did in his speech, and as he regularly does, try to smear the federal government repeatedly and conflate a whole range of issues.
What we are talking about here today, though, is action on renewables. I think that what we have seen is tripartisan support across the Assembly, and I am disappointed that those opposite would seek to change that. It does seem that those opposite are always wanting to create alarmism, dissent and disquiet in the community. But when it comes to actions that they could take individually by restricting their flights, they refuse to do so. When it comes to taking simple actions, like maintaining school buses, we see those opposite cutting them.
I commend Ms Lawder for her position here. I know she is standing in for Ms Lee. I look forward to the continued outrage from those opposite. It does not bother me, but I am sure it does bother a lot of children when this government seeks to, in many ways, hype up concern for what seems to be their own political purposes.
MS ORR (Yerrabi—Minister for Community Services and Facilities, Minister for Disability, Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety and Minister for Government Services and Procurement) (3.24): I am pleased to contribute to today’s discussion on the importance of the ACT leading the nation on the transition to 100 per cent renewable energy sources. Members are aware of my strong passion for climate action and I am proud to stand as an elected member of ACT Labor, a party which takes seriously the responsibility of acting on climate change.
We are a small jurisdiction that punches above our weight. We know that it is thanks to all of us Canberrans who acknowledge the climate crisis that we can continue leading the nation in transitioning to a clean future. This government’s strong climate agenda is based on evidence and the need for us to do what we can to protect our natural environment and the people who call our beautiful city home.
Next year we will achieve our target of 100 per cent renewable electricity. We should be proud of the fact that from next year our homes, our schools, our hospitals and our community spaces will be powered by clean, renewable electricity. Just this week we have been recognised as the first major city outside Europe that will successfully transition to 100 per cent renewables, and this is no small feat.
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