Page 1826 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2011
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with commentary from its public exhibition and the consultation process and further analysis currently underway, will inform the final version. The Greens’ suggestion that nothing is happening in relation to this policy is both misguided and wrong. Indeed, I would argue it is offensive to those policy officers who are working very hard on this particular project at the moment.
The policy will complement draft climate change action plan 2, which will outline potential measures to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets. Despite some assertions to the contrary, there has been broad consultation on the draft policy. Thirty-five submissions were received, broadly supportive of the policy’s form and purpose. The finalised policy draws information obtained from submissions received and the two public fora conducted.
In terms of the issue of renewable energy, renewable energy targets will be set, as required by the ACT Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010. Those renewable energy targets will be set in accordance with the time frames outlined in the legislation. I find it passing strange that I am being criticised for meeting the statutory time frames in relation to the establishment of those targets. It seems a somewhat odd approach, unless, of course, the motivation is to try and get some attention for your own policy position rather than whether or not there has been any wrongdoing on the part of the government.
Turning to the issue of the appointment of the Climate Change Council, this is a very important advisory body and there have been a large number of expressions of interest. I want to make sure that we get a good, robust membership and a membership which is credible and provides important leadership and advisory capacity to the government. Those matters are currently being finalised. Again, I would draw to members’ attention that I cannot unilaterally make appointments in relation to these types of bodies. They require whole-of-government approval and the necessary cabinet processes.
I would like to turn now to the issue of the development of the solar feed-in tariff and the issue of renewable energy generation. Of course, members will be aware that the government have been ambitious in developing and encouraging the deployment of renewable energy generation through our feed-in tariff arrangements. The scheme has proven to be very successful to date. As a result, there are more than 5,000 rooftop solar installations on households, community groups and business premises across the city, providing free and clean energy from the sun. Of course, as members would be aware, this government and this jurisdiction are leading the nation in the enhancement of the feed-in tariff to be made available to medium and large-scale renewable energy generation, an Australian first. Again, I would make the observation that this is not a simple area of policy.
The implementation of the mechanisms, for example, to provide for the reverse auction process for the large-scale feed-in tariff 40-megawatt option, which the government has announced it will conduct, is an incredibly complex area of policy that involves very detailed consideration of issues such as the operation of the national electricity law in relation to the allocation of a large-scale feed-in tariff and how our arrangements are consistent with the national electricity law. I would encourage any
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