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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (22 April) . . Page.. 1195 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

land and other property under the management of the ACT Government and its agencies. On 25 June 1998 I tabled the report in the Legislative Assembly and on 24 September last year I tabled the Government's response to that report. Members who have read the Government's response will have noted that there was broad agreement with the commissioner's recommendations. It is clear from that response that the Government is able to say consistently that many best practices were already instituted and that, in fact, the Government's performance was far better than that suggested prior to the commissioner undertaking his investigation.

The key elements of how the Government is responding further to the recommendations in the report are as follows: The coordination within government in relation to agricultural and veterinary chemicals and pest and weed control activities falls to Environment ACT. Environment ACT, in my department, remains the central point of liaison on these matters, in close consultation with ACT government asset managers, the local pest management industry and the community. In response to the commissioner's report, the existing interagency network was formalised in late 1998 with the creation of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Coordination Network, chaired by Environment ACT. That network comprises members from the Chief Minister's Department, the Bureau of Sport and Recreation, the Department of Education and Community Services, the Department of Health and Community Care and Urban Services, with Canberra Urban Parks and Places, Conservation, Land Management and ACT Forests taking part in that.

As a first task the network established a priority list of activities based on the commissioner's recommendation, taking into account concerns from the pest management industry as well as the community. The priority activities were the publication of a community information brochure of pest control chemicals, the ongoing review process on state-of-the-art best practice management for pest and weed control activities, an ongoing review process for all government contracts for pest control activities and an ongoing review process to ensure consistency between requirements in government contracts and environmental authorisations. The new regulatory framework under the Environment Protection Act 1997 which came into effect on 1 June 1998 ensures that all businesses undertaking pest and weed control activities in the ACT, whether through government contract or for ACT residents, must hold an environmental authorisation which specifies that the pest control operator must be appropriately qualified and experienced in best practice control. That was a key concern raised in the commissioner's report.

The final recommendation which the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Coordination Network decided to address as its highest priority was the publication of an information brochure which details what pest control chemicals are and how their use can be avoided through hygienic practice and manual pest eradication. It explains the potential hazards of pest control chemicals and, finally, lists a range of other information sources and contacts. Mr Deputy Speaker, this information brochure, which is actually on its way to the printer, should be available to the community very shortly. It brings together the information which is already available to the community but, of course, much improves its accessibility. The Government believes that it has ensured and continues to ensure best practice management in relation to pest and weed control activities.

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