Page 4316 - Week 10 - Thursday, 22 September 2011

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MR COE (Ginninderra) (12.24): The Canberra Liberals will be supporting this amendment on the condition that the government does indeed fulfil what it has said it will do in terms of having signage at the midpoint in addition to the start and end.

MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (12.24): I will firstly speak to Mr Coe’s amendment. The Greens will be supporting this amendment, which requires signs to be placed before and during the point-to-point speed camera zones. I believe, as the Chief Minister has alluded to, that there is a guideline already, but we do support an amendment that places it in the principal act. In my opinion, these signs will contribute to people slowing down, and this can only contribute to the road safety outcomes which are intended with this legislation. I think that signs are a good idea, particularly given the privacy concerns we have already discussed. They will at least make it clear to drivers that they are about to enter an area where their photo will taken.

The Greens will also support the government’s amendment to Mr Coe’s amendment. I think it is sensible to state, as it does, that failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of any proceeding in relation to an offence—just to make sure that when the speed cameras find people have offended, people are not allowed to use the signs as a reason or not having to comply with the particular speed notice. I also concur with what Mr Coe said—that we need to make sure these signs are introduced. It does seem, as we have support from all parties, that that will happen. Adding the government’s amendment provides some assurances for the overall purpose of the act. The Greens will be supporting both amendments.

Ms Gallagher’s amendment agreed to.

Mr Coe’s amendment, as amended, agreed to.

Proposed new clause 14A, as amended, agreed to.

Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.

Sitting suspended from 12.27 to 2 pm.

Questions without notice

Energy—feed-in tariff

MR SESELJA: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development—and we welcome him back to the chamber—and it relates to the cut-off date of 31 May to enable the feed-in tariff to be paid at the premium rate. Minister, a memo from your directorate states that, on 7 June 2011, ACT schools were “without any formal contracts being (for the most part) in place or negotiations commenced”. On 8 September, a report in the Canberra Times stated:

80 government schools had not completed their contracts for the initial scheme, which closed abruptly on May 31.


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