Page 3605 - Week 12 - Thursday, 13 October 1994
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Increasing the term of waste discharge licences from one year to three years will allow large premises such as the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre sufficient time to plan, design and construct new capital works aimed at improved environmental outcomes as required by their waste discharge licence. The requirement in section 21 of the principal Act that pollution be reduced to the lowest practicable level is now directly linked to the issuing of licences. This amendment will provide consistency and clearly define a requirement which is important for the control of waste discharge. It is important that pollution control arrangements which protect water quality in the region are effective and efficient, and that the environmental benefits arising from the ACT's significant investment in stormwater management and sewage treatment are not compromised.
Madam Speaker, the amendments provided in this Bill will result in a more effective Act, which will lead to improved environmental outcomes while minimising administrative costs. I commend the Bill to the Assembly, and I present the explanatory memorandum.
Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak) adjourned.
BUSINESS FRANCHISE (TOBACCO AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS) ACT
DETERMINATION OF FEES
Motion for Disallowance
[COGNATE PAPER:
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS - STANDING COMMITTEE - REPORT ON INQUIRY INTO PETROL SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS]
MR HUMPHRIES (11.09): I move:
That Table 1 of Determination No. 137 of 1994, relating to a determination of fees made under section 44A of the Business Franchise (Tobacco and Petroleum Products) Act 1984, be disallowed.
Mr Moore: Madam Speaker, I suggest that we debate this motion with order of the day No. 2, which in many ways deals with the same issue. I think that it would be an efficient way to use to the Assembly's time if we debated those two matters cognately.
MADAM SPEAKER: Is it the wish of the Assembly to take those two matters as a cognate debate? There being no objection, that course will be followed. I remind members that they may refer to order of the day No. 2 while discussing Mr Humphries's motion.
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, in supporting the motion, the Opposition indicates both its support for the general thrust of the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee report on the review of petrol supply arrangements and, pursuant in some ways to the recommendations of that report, its opposition to a tax increase, which we see as a move of blatant hypocrisy by the Follett Labor Government.
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