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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Wednesday, 4 August 2004) . . Page.. 3393 ..

Indeed people found it rather amusing—and I think when you try to introduce anything new and slightly outside of the square or people’s paradigms of thinking, it is amusing. I think that, as Ken Helm said, “wool” to “wine” is still a four-letter word. I think it is interesting. “Hemp” is a four-letter word but I think we look to “hemp” as meaning “hemp employs many people”. As people would know from my tabling statement, the focus has always been on training. I will talk about that in a little while.

We talked to many members with regard to the significant levels of water. In fact, hemp uses the same amount of water as wheat. Let us be clear. It really needs—and I think the Chief Minister alluded to this—significant levels of water in its first 60 days or three months. There seems to be differing advice on this whole area. If you look into it—I have a couple of full files on this—you find that there are possible threats to industries like the cotton and rice industries that, as Mr Stanhope has clearly pointed out, use enormous amounts of water. He is constantly struggling with that debate. Maybe there is an alternative to these crops that use huge amounts of water, and we can look to diversifying in that way. I think that needs to be noted.

I wanted to thank Ms Dundas and the ACT Democrats for their support of the bill. I note that Ms Dundas has some concerns. I am not sure if she is putting any amendments through in relation to those. She said the same thing—that it is a positive step forward; it talks about diversity; it perhaps gives our farmers something to do other than growing olives; and it is an opportunity for diversification. We can still grow olives, Mrs Cross—it is okay!

Ms Tucker talked about many things and supported this. She talked about the difficulties with water. I would like to talk to Ms Tucker more in that regard as we progress through this because there is interest, certainly in the training sector, in how we can develop that now that it appears that this bill will get passed and will become legislation. It will open up the industry. You talked about—I could not hear all that you were saying; I am sorry—the growth of cottage industries in the region. You were concerned about, or questioned, the growth of cottage industries. I think that is something we need to look at again in light of how the wine industry, for example, grew out of that cottage-type hobby interest. We have to keep thinking laterally when we table a new idea.

I also take on board Ms Tucker’s amendments. I have only just looked at those but my office has been talking with Ms Tucker’s office and we are happy to accept them. I appreciate your input. Thankfully, Mrs Cross talked about supporting the bill and, as a businesswoman herself, looking at the options, opportunities and new vistas this will open up for us. I think Ms Dundas also said that.

I would like to thank parliamentary counsel for the vast amount of work they have done on this. I would like to thank the staff in my office—Dean Logan and Ilona Fraser—for their support. I thank members for supporting this, and I think we also need to support the Earth Collection, who allowed me to model this jacket here today. I know props are not allowed, Mr Speaker, but you have to admit it is a very fine jacket!

Let us hope we can see more diversity in this area, which is really the focus of what we are doing here, that will open up new industries, new jobs and new training opportunities in areas such as agriculture, building, retail, small business, tourism and hospitality, to

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