Page 4067 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 20 September 2011
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the environment and sustainability heading only mentions the government office building, real estate policy and waste management within the directorate.
Minister, what actual tangible initiatives has the government undertaken to foster low emission economic activity in the territory over the last three years? Particularly, what economic incentives has the government created for low-emissions activities and what economic disincentives has the government created for emissions-intensive activity?
MR BARR: The ACT government expects that the federal government’s clean energy future package will provide the significant economy-wide incentives for low emission activities. The government believes in supporting innovation and clean technology innovation as part of that. There is funding available through the Innovation Connect or ICon program. The government has indicated a commitment to a clean economy strategy to address territory-wide policy settings. This will be released in April 2012.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, a supplementary question.
MS HUNTER: Minister, accepting that we need to diversify the economy and move away from reliance on the public sector, are other government strategies and initiatives for this premised on the idea that the greatest potential for long-term economic prosperity lies with green activities and industries?
MR BARR: No, Mr Speaker.
Employment—underemployment
MR HANSON: Minister, what is the extent of underemployment in the ACT?
MR BARR: This data is published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The member would be able to find this information on the ABS website. For his information, the catalogue reference is 6202, labour force Australia.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, a supplementary question.
MR HANSON: Minister, what strategies do you have for reducing the extent of underemployment in the ACT?
MR BARR: Delivering a strong economy, Mr Speaker, and I do note that that data series has shown significant decline over the last two years.
Economy—business failures
MR COE: Minister, Dun and Bradstreet has just reported that Australia recorded a significant increase in the level of business failures in the June quarter 2010-11. Minister, what is the recent history of business failures in the ACT?
MR BARR: Insolvencies fell by 10.2 per cent in 2010-11 compared to 2009-10. They have fallen by 22 per cent against the 2008-09 levels. So based on ASIC statistics the number of insolvencies in the territory has been trending down since 2008-09 but we
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