Page 5036 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 26 October 2010
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and are expected to be completed by the end of October. The timetable points to the start of new arrangements in November 2010.
In relation to Mr Smyth’s question, the current program was externally reviewed in late 2009. I am advised that it provided a generally positive picture of the current service and its use by the business community. However, it did highlight some potential areas of improvement, the need for greater collaboration with other service providers, options for more strategic use of online content and syndicated commonwealth information, greater stakeholder participation in the program governance, and a stronger emphasis on one-to-one services and mentoring support.
The review has not been made public as it contained extensive content from stakeholder interviews which was provided in confidence to the reviewers. However, we are able to provide a precis of the review if the shadow treasurer is interested. I take that nod as a yes.
Mr Smyth: Yes, please.
MS GALLAGHER: In relation to my answer around the superannuation question, it was the performance of the financial markets which had been performing strongly when the budget was being finalised but between mid-April and the end of the financial year the market corrected, resulting in a loss of gross earnings falling in the last six weeks of the financial year.
Energy—feed-in tariff
MR CORBELL: In question time last week, Mr Smyth asked me what is the cost for each tonne of greenhouse gas saving under the ACT government’s feed-in tariff scheme. In response to the question, I can advise that fossil fuel based competitors to renewable energy enjoy a competitive advantage over renewable generation through both the exclusion of environmental remediation costs associated with their emissions and the fact that much of the monopoly infrastructure now in private hands was initially created from public moneys and transferred on advantageous terms.
Renewable energy generation in the territory offers advantages over and above simple emissions reductions. These benefits include increased diversity of supply. Total energy dependence on a single source makes the territory vulnerable to disruptions in the supply grid. Distributed energy reduces that risk.
With our alternative supply sources the territory will remain a price taker in the national market that is susceptible to volatile pricing movements. There is also the opportunity to grow new jobs as part of an emerging new clean economy. In relation to the costs per tonne of emissions averted, it is approximately $390.
Papers
Mr Corbell presented the following papers:
Territory Records Amendment Bill 2010—Revised explanatory statement.
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