Page 864 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013
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have seen the Liberal Party vote against policies that support the establishment of large-scale solar power in the territory. We have seen the Liberal Party criticise the development of the Royalla 1 facility. But in 2008 they proposed exactly the same thing.
In 2008 the Liberals proposed the establishment of energy and emissions savings put to a public and private framework. Indeed, they proposed that they would put in place measures that would cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 75 per cent by identifying poor practices in resource use and building design. In 2008 they recommended the establishment of strong interim and long-term targets. I will come back to that in a moment. They also proposed the development of measures to improve home insulation in buildings that would save 37,904 tonnes of CO2 in the first four years alone whilst saving households over 290 million megajoules in energy.
That was their policy in 2008. But what else did they have as their policy? Well, in 2008 they had a policy for strong interim and long-term targets. The Leader of the Opposition really should listen to this, Mr Assistant Speaker, because these are the issues he needs to take responsibility for. In 2008 the Liberals proposed policies of a 30 per cent reduction on 1990 levels by the end of the year 2020 when it came to greenhouse gas emissions. So there they were, in 2008—a 30 per cent reduction on 1990 levels by the year 2020 and by the year 2050 a 60 per cent reduction on 1990 levels.
They do not like to talk about that anymore. They do not like being reminded of that at all. I note that their heads are down and they are engaged in some other form of conversation over there. But the fact is that in 2008 the policy was for a 30 per cent reduction by the year 2020. This is the platform you campaigned on, Jeremy, when you were a candidate and were first elected to this place. Thirty per cent by the year 2020 and 60 per cent by the year 2050. Now, “Climate science is kind of exaggerated, is it not? You can prove anything with statistics.” That is the shocking hypocrisy of those opposite.
In contrast, this government has maintained a strong commitment to climate change action and we have not swayed in the wind like those opposite. We have not said it is an important issue with strong targets and then walked away from it when it is politically expedient to do so. No. This government has stayed the course. As my colleague Ms Berry outlined in her speech, the government has now outlined a comprehensive program through climate change action plan 2 released last year to achieve our greenhouse gas emission targets.
Let me talk about the measures the government is taking, and let me talk also about our greenhouse gas emission targets. In fact, our greenhouse gas emissions profile is now in a stronger position than it was a few years ago. In particular, it is worth highlighting that per capita emissions peaked in 2006 at 12.3 tonnes per capita, and in the most recent inventory period—for the year 2008—they are at 11.9 tonnes per capita. That is an encouraging improvement and one that we will continue to work on. The government is the only party presenting to the people of Canberra a comprehensive program to reduce the energy intensity of activity in our city, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the cost of energy to the community.
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