Page 3238 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 21 September 1994
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In relation to environment management practices, the commissioner notes that the introduction of integrated environment protection legislation, which aims to bring together in one piece of legislation the various Acts and prescribed environmental standards relating to pollution control in the ACT, will greatly assist in achieving suitable ecosystem based management strategies throughout the ACT and region. The Department of the Environment, Land and Planning is progressing the development of the integrated legislation as a priority, and I expect later this year to have a document to release for a second round of public consultation.
This report also provides useful historical perspectives which will enable people to visualise how the ACT has changed since its gazettal as the national capital in 1911. In short, the first ACT State of the Environment Report provides a broad overview of the state of the environment in so far as available information has allowed. Again, I thank the commissioner and his staff and all those on the reference groups for their efforts and commitment in producing this document, and I commend it to the Assembly.
Motion (by Ms Szuty) proposed:
That the debate be now adjourned.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Did you wish to make a comment, Mr Lamont?
Mr Lamont: I was proposing to speak to the report, if I could, momentarily, Mr Deputy Speaker.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Would you seek leave to withdraw the motion, Ms Szuty?
Ms Szuty: I seek leave to withdraw my motion, Mr Deputy Speaker.
Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (3.24): Mr Deputy Speaker, because of my responsibilities for the ACT Electricity and Water Authority in particular but also as the Minister responsible for the Department of Urban Services, I wish to rise to congratulate the commissioner, his staff and the Minister for the presentation of the State of the Environment Report. In doing so, I want to reiterate some words that I used in launching the future water supply strategy document on behalf of ACTEW just recently. I said about that document that as far as water quality was concerned that document would ultimately be assessed as the test by which we - and that is all of us in this Assembly as well as all of us living today in this community - will ultimately be measured. It will be the test, as I believe that this document will be.
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