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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (4 November) . . Page.. 3554 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

will be asked to agree to work cooperatively to reduce domestic violence, through a national task force; endorse a statement of principles about domestic violence; endorse the work of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General on model domestic violence legislation; settle a communique reflecting these agreements; and raise specific issues or concerns about the needs of States and Territories in dealing with domestic violence.

The Federal Government has agreed that just over $13m will be made available over three years to States and Territories to fund projects to reduce domestic violence. I have to say that this offer by the Commonwealth was regarded by the Leaders Forum as pretty abysmal. It represents a commitment of approximately $1.78 per annum for each victim of domestic violence, or about 3c a week! We intend to request the Prime Minister to revise his package significantly. I am also concerned that the one hour allocated for the summit is inadequate and, Mr Speaker, at best, somewhat tokenistic. Members can be assured that these concerns will be conveyed to the Prime Minister by all leaders.

The COAG meeting proper will follow the summit. The following items are on the agenda for the COAG meeting: Commonwealth-State roles and responsibilities in environmental regulation; the domestic greenhouse strategy; illicit drugs; intergovernmental agreement for national third-party access on gas reform; intergovernmental agreement on national marine safety; and the endorsement of the report on monitoring compliance with the COAG principles and guidelines for national standard setting and regulatory action.

The discussion on Commonwealth-State roles and responsibilities in environmental regulation is likely to centre on a draft heads of government agreement currently being negotiated between Senator Hill and State and Territory Environment Ministers. States and Territories have indicated that they are not happy with the draft agreement as it stands. The agreement provides for a concept of national environmental significance to underpin decisions about how and when the Commonwealth will implement its responsibilities for the environment. The aim is to move away from Commonwealth involvement in environmental management issues, which are properly the responsibility of States and Territories. Ideally, we will reach an outcome where the Commonwealth's interests are determined early in the process and in an objective and public manner. The agreement also focuses on development approval processes; places of natural and cultural significance; compliance with State environment and planning laws and processes; and national environment programs, including those funded under the National Heritage Trust.

On the issue of greenhouse gas emissions, the ACT Government will be expressing its disappointment with the Commonwealth's stance on differentiation of targets. I should point out that the Commonwealth has foreshadowed its intention to announce a package of measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While the Federal Government will be seeking endorsement of the package at COAG, I regret to say that I have not been informed of exactly what is included in the package at this time. I intend to detail the ACT's excellent record in this area and point out that the Territory's greenhouse gas emissions are less than half the national average emission per capita. I will also be outlining the steps that are being taken by the ACT in helping to reduce emissions.

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