Page 506 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Ms Lawder for the question and also for following up on this issue. As I indicated in our discussions last week and have done so publicly on a number of occasions since, I would appreciate any of those complaints being forwarded to my office. I can forward them on to directorates if they have not been already. We will certainly follow up on them.
My understanding is that agencies continue to talk to affected residents. If we are not hearing directly from those residents and complaints are only being raised in question time it can be difficult for us to follow up. Again, I encourage Ms Lawder to contact me directly.
Ms Lawder: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, I asked specifically what progress have government agencies made in the investigation, not about getting complaints.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! I will make the ruling, Mr Hanson. The question was clearly about what progress has been made since last Wednesday. I ask the minister to be directly relevant under standing order 118(a).
MS FITZHARRIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. My understanding is that progress remains underway, that the agencies continue to engage with local residents, that they continue to work with both the officials in NOWaste and also through the EPA. As I said also, progress is helped enormously if constituents can come directly to us and tell us when and where the problems are that they are experiencing. Again I reiterate that progress can only occur if we know directly. I urge them again to also contact me directly to provide us, as I also mentioned last week, with information about the time of day that they are noticing these smells. That enables us and the officials to follow up on these reports.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
MS LAWDER: Minister, how many complaints have been received by all ACT government agencies since 1 November 2015 about that smell in Tuggeranong?
MS FITZHARRIS: My understanding is that there have been around 24 complaints received by the Environment Protection Authority and around 15 received by NOWaste but I will take further advice on that and report back to the chamber when I have the updated figures.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, you have mentioned that the government was making progress. What progress has the government made since last week, and how has the government communicated that progress to Tuggeranong residents?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mr Smyth for the supplementary. My understanding is that investigations are still underway. Unfortunately, we have not yet got to the
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video