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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 3007 ..
MR SMYTH (continuing):
The commissioner concludes in his report that, provided Totalcare upgrades the facilities to meet the new standards and ensures correct combustion operations, the plant will minimise emission of contaminants to the environment. Indeed, it should be noted that the proposed dioxin/furan emissions standard is world's best practice.
The commissioner did find that a number of current operational standards, particularly relating to other wastes, such as bottom ash and liquid wastes, require more accurate specification. The government has responded positively to the commissioner's recommendations and will ensure that the actions indicated are implemented quickly in close consultation with Totalcare.
In regard to recommendation 8, which relates to the measurement of dioxins and heavy metals in soil around the plant, the government can only agree in principle at this stage. It is impracticable to investigate background levels at present as there are no established benchmarks for natural levels of dioxins. The federal government is moving to examine this issue. However, it will be some time before there are any firm conclusions on which to base local monitoring work.
I formally table the government's response to the Commissioner for the Environment's report on a review of proposed standards for air emissions and other waste products and monitoring requirements for the Totalcare incinerator, pursuant to section 22 of the Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993. I am also pleased to table for the information of my Assembly colleagues a report recently commissioned by Environment ACT examining alternative technologies for the disposal of clinical waste. Whilst this report details the relevant benefits and costs of alternative methods, it concludes that in the short to medium term incineration remains the most viable technology available to us. I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the papers.
Debate (on motion by Mr Corbell ) adjourned.
MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education) (3.56): Mr Speaker, for the information of members and in accordance with the resolution of the Assembly of 24 May 2000, I present the following paper:
Indigenous education-Six-monthly performance report, September 2000.
I ask for leave to make a statement about the report.
Leave granted.
MR STEFANIAK
: Mr Speaker, I am pleased to present the first six monthly report on the government's performance on indigenous education. As I have noted in the overview to the report, improving educational outcomes for indigenous students is a very real issue in the ACT, as it is across Australia. This government is committed to making concerted
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