Page 889 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
environmental action. I am pleased to have the opportunity to remind Ms Le Couteur that I moved a motion in 2017 which called for similar actions in regard to the ACT’s energy efficiency rating scheme. That motion received support from all parties. Until the notice of this motion was given, I had assumed this matter was one where the Greens supported ACT Labor’s nation-leading approach. I do wonder whether, by bringing this motion forward today, Ms Le Couteur is simply trying to win herself more environmental credit by essentially copying the motion I moved in September 2017.
With the Assembly’s support of my motion, the ACT government was required to provide a report on the progress of the review of the ACT’s energy efficiency rating scheme to the Assembly by the last sitting day in 2018. That progress report noted the potential for the review to develop and assess options for expanding the energy efficiency rating scheme to all rental properties in the ACT, as well as the type and form of information of most relevance to owner-occupiers, investors and tenants, and how this could be accommodated under the scheme.
Ms Le Couteur’s original motion called for improved monitoring of building quality in relation to the energy efficiency rating of a building. I draw to her attention that that has already been agreed as a result of my motion, which called for consideration of appropriate compliance measures. In the 2017-18 financial year, Access Canberra conducted 891 energy and construction audits for the Building Act 2004 and the energy rating assessments. To put it simply, we have already agreed on, and are doing, what Ms Le Couteur is now calling for in her motion.
Our climate here in Canberra is unique. We have extremely hot summers and extremely cold winters. Therefore, our buildings need to be adaptive to suit both seasonal effects. Solely focusing on the energy efficiency of a building during summer, which Ms Le Couteur’s motion does, completely disregards the important need to ensure that our homes are livable during winter as well.
I am pleased to support the amendments moved by Minister Ramsay, particularly the investigation of potential changes to ACT Housing design requirements for public housing and the potential expansion of the energy efficiency improvement scheme to cover more options that would keep Canberrans cool in heatwaves. Our buildings need to be livable in all Canberra seasons. Something which sets Labor apart from the Greens is that we believe environmentalism should be focused on everyone, not just those who can afford to upgrade their own homes to be more energy efficient and productive.
It is important to note that the energy efficiency rating of a building is not necessarily the only way to measure the performance and livability of the building. There is no denying that it is an important benchmark; however, we also need to be cognisant of the fact that an energy efficiency rating is an average indication of the energy usage needs of a building. The methodology is complex and technical in nature, and the science is rapidly evolving. If we are going to make genuine reform in these areas, we have to make sure we are approaching the reform with clarity.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video