Page 3323 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 September 1994
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Weed Control
MR BERRY: Noting that spring has sprung, and it is obviously in the blood of those opposite because they are rampaging at the moment, we have the growing season with us and we know that there is going to be some weedy growth around - not to be confused with the ones opposite - would Mr Wood tell us what the Government is going to do about the growth of weeds as compared to weedy growth?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, the incidence of weeds in the Territory is one that concerns many people. Let me give credit to one of our committees which has looked at this issue. It is not perhaps generally known that we spend $1m a year in combating weed growth. That is a very substantial amount of money; yet it appears, from time to time, that we are flat out keeping up with the outbreaks. St John's wort, of course, is an example of that. Since we spend so much money in this area, the Government has decided to assess the way we combat the weeds. We have allocated $44,000 to a specific study to see whether what we are doing in weed control is absolutely the best way to proceed. That $1m is a lot and we need to ensure that it is being well spent. So, we are going to assess very carefully the various mechanisms, the different sorts of controls, the spraying, and the like, to see what the best outcome might be.
I should mention the outstanding work that a great number of Canberrans do through groups such as Parkcare, Landcare, or Paddockcare. These groups - there are over 70 of them in the ACT - spend many hours in a year working in our nature reserves and other parts of Canberra, and they should get credit for that work. Among the work that they do is a great deal of weed control. They will remove the weeds from the areas for which they have a responsibility and, of course, they get very considerable help in that from the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning. We provide the trucks. We do a great deal to assist them. But I think it is proper to acknowledge that outstanding effort by a great number of Canberrans in caring for this local community. It is one that we give strong support to.
Ms Follett: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
PARTY AFFILIATIONS
Mr Connolly: Madam Speaker, I just want to raise a point of order. During question time Mr Moore referred, in answer to Mr Wood, to a person whom he described as Ms Szuty of the Michael Moore Independent Group. I look in Hansard and I see no record of any such person or party affiliation; I see two Independents. I seek your guidance, Madam Speaker, as to whether there have been party affiliation changes and whether that impacts on resourcing and other such matters. Do we still have two Independents or do we have a new party?
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