Page 3349 - Week 09 - Thursday, 22 August 2019

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MR GENTLEMAN: Yes; just a minute. The ban has reduced plastic bag use, with shoppers encouraged to bring their own bags. Overall, the ban has reduced the volume of plastic bag waste going to landfill by around one-third. I thank members for their input into this discussion.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Achievements over the past year

Ministerial statement

Debate resumed from 31 October 2017, on motion by Mr Rattenbury:

That the Assembly take note of the paper:

Achievements in the first year—Ministerial statement, 31 October 2017.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Sitting suspended from 11.30 am to 2.00 pm.

Questions without notice

Government—heritage policy

MR COE: I very much encourage an answer to my questions! My question is to the Minister for Environment and Heritage. What additional work or what tasks will the additional staff member in the heritage team be undertaking?

MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Coe for his question. It is an important one with the city moving to an improved and increased population across the ACT. These staff will be able to assist the heritage team in looking at decisions on DAs and nominations into the future. I am very pleased to be able to support EPSDD in doing that particular work.

MR COE: Minister, will the additional staff member or additional staff resources in the heritage unit be working to address a backlog in nominations to the heritage register?

MR GENTLEMAN: Mr Coe touches on a very important point and that is that the staff in EPSDD, whether they be in the development application process team or indeed work in assisting heritage nomination decisions, work as a whole team. This government has resourced EPSDD with extra staff to work through the DA process but also through the heritage applications. So I am very pleased to be able to see that work proceed. Of course the council has looked at more nominations most recently and has reduced the list of heritage nominations for decision.

MS LAWDER: Minister, why then did your answer to question on notice E-19508 say that the funding for a full-time equivalent would “not relate to nominations of a place or object to the ACT Heritage Register”?


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