Page 4397 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 30 November 1994
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The ACT specifically, I think, can benefit from this in a number of ways. Firstly, the ACT, whilst not part of the Murray-Darling Basin and the Murray-Darling agreement - I think that is something that should happen; we should be part of that - does at least go along and participate, and we are part of the Murray-Darling Basin in that our waterways flow into the Murrumbidgee River, the Murrumbidgee River flows into the Murray River and the Darling River flows into the Murray River, and what happens in the ACT impacts downriver. One only has to remember back a couple of years ago to the outflow of sewage from the Molonglo treatment works and the furore that that caused in surrounding shires. So, the ACT has a key role to play in terms of the local environment in south-eastern Australia. Because of that, it is crazy if various States and Territories go it alone in terms of environmental standards. The whole gamut of environmental controls over such things as water pollution, toxic wastes and noise is not terribly effective if each State and Territory has its own legislation. I have seen a number of problems because there is different legislation in New South Wales and the ACT. The ACT can administer its area and have an input in surrounding areas because the legislation is not common.
This Bill will put the ACT in line with the rest of the country in terms of having the National Environment Protection Council meet and make recommendations, which then, in terms of the agreement, will be enacted by the Commonwealth, the States and Territories in order to adopt a coordinated approach towards the environment. I think the ACT can only benefit from this. I believe that the process is still in its infancy. We are unlikely to see uniform legislation for many months, possibly one or two years; but at least this enables that to commence. I think that within a few years we should have sensible coordinated legislation by the ACT, New South Wales, the other States and the Commonwealth. That can only benefit not only the people of the ACT but Australia as a whole.
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Heritage and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (5.24), in reply: I understand Mr Stefaniak's support and I thank him for that. It is a fine move. This time I will commend him, for a change, on his environmental sensitivity.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
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