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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 4 Hansard (30 March) . . Page.. 1133 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

is there, I will certainly take the recommendation very seriously. In the absence of such a recommendation, I do not have any view that there is a shortage of resources. The bulk of the work of that body is done by the members of the body. They do it because they are skilled people. They are not always lawyers but very often lawyers with a high degree of training and expertise. They come to their task with a wealth of information and a background and experience which make them very well equipped to be able to produce reports of that kind.

If the reports were being written by officers of my department or officers of the commission burrowing away inside a library somewhere, it would rather defeat the purpose of this exercise. I am not convinced there is a need for further resources, although I will keep the matter under review, obviously.

MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, my question is to Mr Smyth, as Minister for the environment. Minister, for some time businesses at the Parkwood Estate have been bothered by the considerable amount of dust and debris coming from the next-door mulching facility. I think the Minister has had some activity with that. Apart from being a significant health hazard, this dust affects business operations, including those requiring a clean environment. As well, I have been told of cups of coffee being covered in a layer of dust before they can be consumed. Minister, I know some measures have been taken but the problem persists. It is quite serious, I understand. Could you attend to the matter and perhaps report back to the Assembly - or tell me today - on whether some further measures will be taken to protect the next-door neighbours?

MR SMYTH: I thank Mr Wood for his question. I will have to seek further information from the department. The issue was raised some time ago, and I believe PALM did speak to the lessee of the mulching facility about his obligations to protect the environment. I will seek further information for the member.

MS TUCKER: My question is directed to the Chief Minister and relates to the Government's proposed assistance to Impulse Airlines. Chief Minister, the statement of intent you circulated stated that the issue of an assistance package for an Impulse Airlines industry development based in Canberra would be put to the ACT Legislative Assembly and the support of the Assembly sought. I also understood that part of your reason for signing the statement of intent last week was to have time to seek Assembly endorsement of the proposal so that the agreement could be finalised and the assistance started by July. However, the motion you have put forward for debate today merely asks the Assembly to note the Government's proposal. Could you please explain why you are not implementing the terms of the statement of intent, which could be regarded by some as a breach of good faith on your part? Or do you believe that the involvement of the Assembly in deciding on this expenditure is a peripheral matter?

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