Page 1839 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 30 May 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I certainly would have expected the Minister, before and after the tabling of that report - and there probably have been some few days in that - to have informed himself of the significant areas in it. Can he undertake to provide that information as soon as possible, unless Mr Kaine has it there on his desk in his prepared answers?
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I have certainly taken the last few days to examine very carefully what is in the Priorities Review Board report. It did not extend, in my understanding, to an examination of what the members happened to be thinking when they made particular statements.
Mr Wood: It is not a matter of thinking. They should have some evidence for what they say.
MR HUMPHRIES: I do not want to debate the PRB with Mr Wood, Mr Speaker, but it is quite clear to me that the statements that it made in that respect reflect a very obvious concern of many in the community.
Wood Burning Stoves
MR STEFANIAK: My question is addressed to the Minister for Finance and Urban Services. Is the Government going to ban wood burning stoves as a result of some allegations in relation to their contribution to the greenhouse effect?
MR DUBY: I thank Mr Stefaniak for the questions. Firstly, I would like to assure the Assembly that the Government does not have, and has never had, any intention of banning wood burning stoves or open fires. Mr Stefaniak will remember that on 26 April this year, as part of the Government's response in relation to the greenhouse effect, I released a discussion paper outlining some of the initiatives being proposed for the ACT to deal with greenhouse climate change. One aim of that strategy is to reduce emissions of gases that are detrimental to the environment. The most effective way is to reduce our reliance on energy derived from fossil fuel.
Wood burning stoves are a good alternative home-heating source. However, Canberra does have a smoke problem in the cold evenings and nights which is caused solely by wood burning stoves. In order to make wood burning stoves more attractive in the built-up area, the Government will consider introducing regulations to control emissions from solid fuel burning stoves.
The Legislative Assembly standing committee is investigating an integrated energy and environment policy for the ACT, and I understand that it will be reporting shortly. The Government will certainly take into account any of its recommendations. We believe that the community
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .