Page 4865 - Week 11 - Thursday, 21 October 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Mr Corbell: On a point of order, the question is somewhat hypothetical, Mr Speaker. It is asking for the Treasurer to answer a question on the basis of something that has not occurred. It is entirely hypothetical.
MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Mr Smyth’s question is in order.
MS GALLAGHER: The change of use charge is a small component of the overall revenue generated each year through ACT taxes and charges. I would imagine we would have to have a completely new system of change of use charge for me to refer to the word “significant”. But I will leave how I describe certain events and issues to the day-to-day responses to those opposite. This is really getting a little bit silly, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth?
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Treasurer, can Canberrans look forward to further modest tax increases in the 2011-12 budget?
MS GALLAGHER: The budget will be introduced into the parliament in May next year. Mr Smyth, I know that you await that date eagerly and with anticipation, as we all do.
Emergency services—waste management
MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and it relates to the waste management area at the old Belconnen landfill site. Minister, given that this site is at the western-most point of the ACT suburban area, has there been any analysis of the bushfire risk of having the site used for waste management activities which have inherent high levels of fuel such as timber?
MR CORBELL: Yes, there has.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, a supplementary question?
MS HUNTER: Have emergency services been consulted about the use of the site for remediating contaminated soil from old petrol stations which contains high levels of hydrocarbons, and what risk does this activity have?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Hunter for the supplementary. I am not aware of any particular discussions or consultation that may have occurred in relation to the material Ms Hunter refers to. I will take that part of the question on notice.
What I would say, though, is that the ACT Fire Brigade have been paying close attention to this part of the ACT because it is at the north-western extremity of the urban area and is, indeed, an area which is subject to the prevailing winds in summer and obviously presents a potentially higher risk when it comes to fire because of its physical location. The ACT Fire Brigade have, in recent years, undertaken a range of measures to ensure compliance with regard to the storage of various materials at that
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video