Page 1017 - Week 04 - Thursday, 3 May 2007

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ATTACHMENT A

196/07 30 March 2007

CANBERRANS URGED TO SUPPORT FIRST ‘EARTH HOUR’

Canberrans are being encouraged to switch off their lights and appliances for an hour this Saturday, in an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the contribution electricity makes to greenhouse emissions.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said Earth Hour, a Sydney-based campaign, could ultimately go national — even global.

“During Earth Hour — from 7.30pm until 8.30pm this Saturday — people are being asked to turn off their lights and non-essential appliances,” Mr Stanhope said today. “The campaign lasts for just an hour, but it is hoped that the raised level of consciousness about the contribution each of us makes, each and every day, to the changing climate will persist, 24 hours a day.”

Mr Stanhope said the ACT Government already had a policy that all unnecessary lights and electrical equipment should be turned off outside office hours. He said Government agencies and employees would be reminded to turn off lights and electrical appliances when they left work this Friday.

While encouraging Canberrans to participate, the Chief Minister reminded people that no action should be taken that would impact on safety.

For more information on Earth Hour go to http://earthhour.smh.com.au/ .

Statement Ends

Media Contact:

Penelope Layland 6205 9777 0438 289 714 penelope.layland@act.gov.au

Paul Kindermann 6205 1690  0403 600 955 paul.kindermann@act.gov.au

Environment—corroborree frogs
(Question No 1491)

Dr Foskey asked the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, upon notice, on 28 February 2007:

Can the Minister provide an update on the Corroborree Frog Program.

Mr Hargreaves: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

In 2003 the ACT Government established a captive population of Northern Corroboree Frogs as a backup in case wild populations became extinct. This year wild populations of Northern Corroboree Frogs in the ACT crashed to the lowest level ever and the species is on the verge of extinction in the ACT.

Where there were once thousands of Corroboree Frogs in the main breeding areas of Ginini and Snowy Flats in the Brindabella Range, Namadgi National Park, only a few frogs were found in some of the smaller bogs this year. Whilst Northern Corroboree Frogs


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