Page 939 - Week 04 - Thursday, 3 May 2007
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century have continued to invest in it, continued to grow it and continued to support it and it is now, of course, one of the wonders of the world.
Sustainable transport plan
MR MULCAHY: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, the sustainable transport plan has been set aside for review by your new minister. One part of that plan states:
Transport in the ACT contributes approximately 24% of total greenhouse gas emissions and is projected to grow strongly over the next ten years.
How much will the review of the sustainable transport plan cost and is it appropriate that this cost, created by your whim for a ministerial reshuffle, be borne by the taxpayer?
MR STANHOPE: I am not aware of the context or the nature of any such statement or proposed review that the minister may be contemplating. I am aware, of course, of his comments, but I have not discussed with him his intention or seen the context in which he made the comment or remark that he did. It is quite reasonable that any avenue of government administration or policy development be kept under review. I do not think that it is a heinous crime for a minister to suggest that he might review a government policy. For an incoming minister, I think that it would be only appropriate that he actually do that or at least seek to assure himself that he is familiar with, understands and is committed to every detail and that it is working appropriately and will achieve the policy outcomes that the government anticipated or hoped for it.
To that extent, there is no further information I can provide to the member at this time in relation to that. I do not think that it is particularly remarkable. But let me say that this government is absolutely committed to a sustainable future, to a sustainable Canberra, and showing the leadership that is required in relation to addressing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Of course, that is a determination in sharp contrast to that of the only Liberal government in Australian; namely, the national Liberal government, which is led by someone who now describes himself, I think, as a climate change sceptic but who is, in fact, a climate change denier whose response to the need for leadership in relation to the most significant issue facing the nation is to commit the nation to nuclear power.
Mr Smyth: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Under standing order 118 (b), the minister cannot debate the subject. He also must be relevant to the question, which was about greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles in the ACT and the sustainable transport plan.
MR SPEAKER: I think that greenhouse gas emissions have something to do with climate control.
MR STANHOPE: We can understand why Mr Smyth and the Liberal Party in this place are sensitive about the federal government’s abandonment of any commitment or leadership in relation to climate change, because they have none. As I said, the only Liberal government in Australia has responded to the most significant and serious
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