Page 1405 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
talks about the Think Water, Act Water strategy, water conservation and reuse and future contracts for ACT government funded infrastructure work in relation to that.
The report talks about Dr Foskey’s interest in current Actew billing; energy is discussed there. It then refers to the national water initiative, environmental flows, post bushfire recovery and quite a number of other areas. Page 9 talks about climate change strategy and the government’s “weathering the change” climate change strategy. It also talks about feed-in tariffs—a matter that is close to my heart—solar energy projects, ACTION buses and the new network. So there is quite a deal in the report, contrary to what Mrs Dunne was saying.
I was also interested in her comments about her time on the Assembly’s P and E Committee. The Assembly might want to note that, unfortunately, Mrs Dunne has not been able to attend two out of the last four meetings of the planning and environment committee—some eight hours of meeting times of the committee. She might have Mr Seselja’s disease. You will remember that when he was critical of a P and E committee report he could not make it to seven meetings. Mrs Dunne is correct—
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Gentleman has the floor.
MR GENTLEMAN: when she says she has not been a regular attendee.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Bill 2008
Debate resumed from 10 April 2008, on motion by Mr Stanhope:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.53): The opposition will be supporting this bill because, if managed professionally and with sufficient checks and balances in place, the elected body has the potential to provide Indigenous people in the ACT with a cohesive and effective voice and therefore a greater capacity to engage not only decision makers but also the broader community.
The bill would establish a body to be known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body. It would consist of seven members, each of whom would hold office for a three-year term on a part-time basis. The electorate would comprise those persons who qualify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander who are at least 18 years old. The dictionary provides that Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander means a person who (a) is a descendant of an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander, (b) identifies as an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander and (c) is accepted as an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community, who is 18 years old, who is enrolled or entitled to be enrolled for an electorate in the ACT and who is not under a sentence or
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .