Page 3148 - Week 08 - Thursday, 7 August 2008
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(2) Is there discussion of revising the measures which are contained within the NEPM for the ACT.
Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. Under the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) the ACT requires only one monitoring station. Despite this, the ACT Government operates two major monitoring stations, one at Monash and the other in Civic. A third smaller station operated at Woden. This station only monitors particulate matter.
The NEPM contains six criteria pollutants, namely carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, lead and particulate matter. The ACT does not monitor sulfur dioxide and lead due to a lack of heavy industry and ambient sources respectively.
Carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and ozone are measured on a continuous basis at both Monash and Civic. Historical monitoring indicates that these pollutants are usually below the NEPM standards. However, in late 2006 and early 2007, the ACT was impacted by smoke pollution from severe bushfire activity in Victoria and NSW which resulted in several exceedences of the of the ozone standard being measured at Civic. Nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide levels are well below the standard at both stations.
Particulate matter is the primary pollutant of concern for Canberra. Monitoring shows exceedences of the national standard have been recorded at all stations with most of these related to the use of solid fuelled heaters in winter. The ACT Government has an ongoing program to address wood smoke, including public education and awareness programs such as the Don’t Burn Tonight’ campaign, undertakes enforcement activities, and licensing of firewood merchants. For the last four years the Government has also run a successful Wood Heater Replacement Program.
More recently the ACT has experienced elevated levels and exceedences outside of winter from bushfires and dust storms due to the ongoing drought in south-eastern Australia.
2. The review of the Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure is due to be completed in March 2009. The Review Team is currently working on a second discussion paper, which is addressing air quality standards. This is expected to be released in September/October 2008.
Censorship—X-rated material
(Question No 2112)
Mrs Dunne asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 26 June 2008:
(1) Could the Minister provide details on the revenue which the ACT Government made through the sale of X-rated films in the ACT from any taxes and licensing;
(2) How many X-rated films are exported to indigenous communities from the ACT;
(3) Is the Minister concerned about the links between crimes against women and children and the impact on the behaviour of children and the availability of X rated films; if so, what steps are being taken to limit the export of X-rated material.
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