Page 2106 - Week 06 - Thursday, 8 June 2017
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Assembly in the event that other council mergers or name changes occur within the relevant catchment areas referenced in the various acts. Madam Deputy Speaker, we support these amendments.
The bill also takes the opportunity to streamline membership of various coordination groups specified in these acts. The names of some of the directorates listed in the acts are out of date as a result of changes to the administrative arrangements.
Clause 23 amends the Water Resources Act 2007 so that the coordination group includes directors-general of the directorates responsible for legislation prescribed by regulation, which provides some flexibility for changes in administrative arrangements. Madam Deputy Speaker, we do not have any objections to these proposed amendments.
I take the opportunity to reiterate Ms Lawder’s earlier comments in relation to the delays that we have received in getting a briefing. I remind the government that if it is their intention, as I am sure it is, to have some robust great debate on these bills, we do need to have access easily to briefings.
In relation to the remaining aspects of the bill, including some proposed amendments to the bill, I will leave it to my colleague Ms Lawder to outline and speak on them in the detail stage.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.51): I rise to speak and provide comments on a few of the amendments that this bill will make on a range of measures. Firstly, I would like to note that the amendments that relate to the energy efficiency improvement scheme make important changes to enhance the information sharing between the ACT government and other jurisdictions. Ms Lee just spoke about this matter. Notably, this will allow compliance information to be coordinated between the ACT and the federal Clean Energy Regulator, who administers the federal emissions reduction scheme. The sharing of information works to maintain the integrity of both schemes. With financial benefits available to those participating in the scheme, there is a need to protect against those who may seek to double-dip in both the federal and ACT schemes. And this is designed to assist in ensuring that that does not happen.
I note that the EEIS has been highly successful. As at the end of last year over one million energy saving devices had been installed in Canberra homes. These devices include replacement light globes, double glazed windows, draught seals and the replacement of inefficient hot-water heaters and refrigerators. These devices have been installed in over 76,000 Canberra homes, including approximately 20,000 low income households. One of the great benefits of making improvements to energy efficiency is the ability to reduce the energy costs of households and businesses. It really is the classic win-win outcome for both the environment as well as people’s hip pockets.
I note that the bill also makes amendments to the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010 and the Water Resources Act to provide clarity in the reporting timelines for the ACT’s Climate Council and the catchment management
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