Page 1551 - Week 04 - Thursday, 25 March 2010

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potential savings that are available in dollar terms through a range of energy improvement measures in homes, including, for example, insulation top-up to R4.5 can save an average household up to $300 a year on energy; wool insulation, up to $250 a year on energy; underfloor insulation, up to $100 a year; seal gaps and cracks, up to $150 a year; lined curtains with pelmets or well-fitted airtight blinds, up to $200 a year; external shading, up to $100 a year; and upgrade of a hot water system, between $50 and $400 a year saving, depending on consumption habits and the system chosen.

Planning—building certifiers

MR BARR: Yesterday in question time Ms Le Couteur and Ms Bresnan asked a series of questions in relation to EER provisions and building certifiers and I took parts of those questions on notice.

I can advise the Assembly and Ms Le Couteur that a number of the issues that she raised in some parts of her question yesterday have been addressed in my answer to her question on notice No 560: that the “deemed to satisfy” provisions of the Building Code of Australia do not require an EER and consequently building plans approved by building certifiers are not reassessed for energy efficiency ratings. But, as Ms Le Couteur is aware because she has made a submission on behalf of her party, the Planning and Land Authority has released a discussion paper regarding the ACT house energy rating scheme, and the government will be making some further announcements in relation to that in the near future.

Ms Bresnan sought some clarification on the issue of a potential conflict of interest around building certifiers. I can advise that the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act requires a building certifier to have a minimum level of competence and to undertake their functions in accordance with the Building Act. The building certifier is answerable to the Construction Occupations Registrar for the quality of their work and the manner in which that work is undertaken. Certifiers who fail to do their job in accordance with the Building Act can have their licences, and therefore their livelihood, removed by the Construction Occupations Registrar. But I reiterate that I do acknowledge community concern in relation to this issue and am looking at options to further address this perceived conflict of interest.

Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee

Report 2—government response

MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Minister for Transport, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Land and Property Services, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for the Arts and Heritage) (3.29): For the information of members, I present the following paper:

Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee—Report 2—Latimer House Principles—Government response.

I move:


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