Page 4550 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what advice have you sought or been given about potential conflicts of interest where an exemption to an EIS is sought for an ACT government project, or a project where the ACT government has a significant stake?
MR GENTLEMAN: Legal advice is provided to ministers on a regular basis about their decision-making. That is the advice that we receive.
Ginninderry—environmental impact statement
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to Mr Rattenbury as Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. Minister, today’s Canberra Times reports that the government has exempted the Ginninderry development from an EIS process, even though there were numerous objections from the Conservator of Flora and Fauna, local community groups and environmental experts that suggested that insufficient protections had been offered to the vulnerable little eagle for their nesting areas as well as concerns about the impact the development would have on the critically endangered golden sun moth and the vulnerable pink-tailed worm-lizard. As Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, have you been consulted on this development?
MR RATTENBURY: No, not formally.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, did you oppose or otherwise lodge objections to this development at any stage?
MR GENTLEMAN: Madam Speaker, this question is directly in relation to the environment. I am the minister for the environment. I will take the question. Of course we take all aspects of the environment very seriously, and all stakeholders in the environment groups very seriously as well, in relation to making decisions about future environmental issues. Indeed, we have to make sure that we are in line with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the commonwealth act. We have to ensure that we align with that as well.
MS LEE: Minister Rattenbury, have you made any representations from any environmental groups to the minister for the environment about their concerns in relation to the environmental sustainability of the development?
MR RATTENBURY: There is a whole range of issues when it comes to the sustainability of the development. I have certainly been involved in active discussions about the proposal to not provide gas in that area. That is certainly an area in which, because of my climate change responsibilities, I am particularly taking an interest. We have received representations that gas not have to be provided. As members may be aware, under the legislation at the moment it is mandatory to provide gas into these suburbs. That is certainly an issue that I have been involved in. I have had discussions with the Conservation Council about these issues, and I am aware of various other public comments by other groups.
Roads—resurfacing
MS ORR: My question is to the Minister for Roads: could you please provide an update to the Assembly on the ACT government’s annual road resurfacing program?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video