Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2905 ..


Totalcare Incinerator

(Question No. 186)

Ms Tucker asked the Chief Minister, upon notice, on 31 August 1999:

In relation to the Totalcare incinerator at Mitchell - Could you provide a list of all current customers of Totalcare's incineration service including:

(1) Name and location of the customer.

(2) The nature of the waste.

(3) The rate charged for incineration of the waste.

(4) The rate charged for collection of the waste by Totalcare, where relevant.

(5) An explanation of how the charge was determined.

Mr Humphries The answer to the Member's question is as follows:

On 31 August 1999 you directed the above question to my colleague, the Chief Minister. I am providing a response as this matter fails within my portfolio responsibilities as the Treasurer.

I have been advised by Totalcare of the following:

(1) Its customers are both Canberra based and interstate businesses. Canberra based customers include public and private hospitals, health centres, medical, dental and veterinary practitioners and pathology laboratories. Interstate customers include hospitals, pathology laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. There are approximately 308 ACT clients, a further 67 from the local region and 68 other clients from interstate. Totalcare considers that it is not ethical for it to publish the names of each of its customers without their express consent and, moreover, their disclosure would compromise the company's competitive position.

(2) All waste incinerated falls within the classifications described in Environment ACT's authorisation and primarily is clinical and pharmaceutical in nature.

(3), (4), and (5) Since Totalcare negotiates prices with its clients on an individual basis there is no one rate - rates charged vary considerably from client to client and over time. The methodology for determining Totalcare's pricing regime takes into account prevailing market conditions and a number of other factors including, but not limited to:

a) volume;

b) location;

c) combustibility; and

d) labour requirements.

Considering the nature of Totalcare's pricing system, it is not possible to attribute a generic single price or price range given the wide range of variables potentially associated with individual arrangements.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .