Page 83 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 27 November 2012
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2012, the Treasury confirmed that the cost was only $7.5 million per year. Minister, why did you mislead the community on the cost of a kerbside garden bin collection?
MR CORBELL: I didn’t.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall, a supplementary question.
MR WALL: Minister, did you use false numbers in persuading the ACT Greens to backflip on their previously stated support for green bins?
MR CORBELL: No.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Seselja.
MR SESELJA: Which false numbers didn’t you use? Minister, on 15 June 2012 you stated:
The option for a Residual Material Recovery Facility will cost $8.4 million per year, compared with implementing a third bin which would cost $20 million per year.
Given that Treasury has costed a third bin service at $7.5 million per year, will you reconsider your position on green bins?
MR CORBELL: No, I will not, and the reason for that is that the Treasury has costed the Liberals’ assumptions around the delivery of the service, and that is the mechanism that is used in the policy costings process. But I would draw members’ attention to the advice which the government has received and which we believe continues to be an accurate assessment, and that is the report commissioned from Hyder Consulting that looked in detail at the different cost options.
Of course, the other question that arises here is about cost effectiveness. Is the Liberal Party’s proposal going to increase recycling rates? Is it going to see more green waste recycled? And we know the answer to that is no, it is not. The reason it is not is that we already achieve a recycling rate for green waste of over 90 per cent, and we do that at no cost to taxpayers. So the real question for the government is: does it make sense to spend taxpayers’ money to achieve no net benefit, no increase in the recycling rate? The government’s answer to that is, no, it does not make sense.
MS PORTER: A supplementary question.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, could you explain to the Assembly the government’s alternative policy with regard to green waste?
MADAM SPEAKER: Could you hang on a second, please, Mr Corbell. You will just have to be patient with me. I am learning some of these things as we go along. I was wanting to clarify whether that was entirely in order. I believe it is. Perhaps for the benefit of Mr Corbell, you might repeat the question.
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