Page 2209 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 4 August 2015

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Indeed, if savings that are to be made through the next reiteration of the scheme are best made in the area of gas supply, then insulation will come to the forefront again surely as gas heating is something that many Canberrans enjoy but which many Canberrans probably also pay over the odds for because their houses are poorly insulated. This is something, again, that will warrant further monitoring and I hope that we can reach a point where we can move past what I suspect is a lingering nervousness over the fallout of the home insulation scheme that was implemented a couple of years ago and recognise that home insulation is a very valid and appropriate form of energy efficiency and that it worked very well for many years. I think we can get back to that place of steady and constant implementation and, I guess, installation of that energy saving opportunity.

With those few remarks I am pleased to support this bill. I think it improves, through experience, some elements of what is a very good scheme already and continues it for a longer period. I think that is worth while because there is certainly more to be done in the ACT in terms of improving the energy efficiency of our households. On that basis I am pleased to support the bill today.

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 12.32 to 2.30 pm.

Questions without notice

Construction industry—alleged bullying

MR HANSON: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations. I refer to a recent online survey of Master Builders ACT members which found that 71.8 per cent of members had been intimidated and 41 per cent physically intimidated by members of the ACT branch of the CFMEU. I also refer to the recent hearings of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. Have any instances of bullying or intimidation by CFMEU members on projects funded by the ACT government been brought to your attention?

MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Hanson for his question. I do not recall any instances of bullying being presented to me as Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations in regard to government contracts.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.

MR HANSON: Minister, are you aware of any instances of requests for bribes or donations to the CFMEU in return for industrial peace on projects funded by the ACT government or have any been brought to your attention?

MR GENTLEMAN: No.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.


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